SCIENTIFIC THINKING ABOUT WEIGHT CONTROL

Fat balance: The physiological model

The next development examined the separate nutrient balance equations, i.e. fat, alcohol, carbohydrate and protein equations. In human physiology it became clear that fat imbalance was the main cause of energy imbalance. Hence the formula to describe this became the following:

Rate of change of fat stores = rate of fat intake — rate of fat oxidation.

This developed from important physiological studies in the 1980s which found that in humans, fat stores come largely from dietary fat, and that under most conditions, fat balance equals energy balance. It is only under unusual conditions that humans convert significant amounts of non-fat calories into fat for storage. This model then suggests fat imbalance as the primary cause of an imbalance between energy intake and utilisation. Hence, the approach is a major step forward because it moves away from regarding obesity as a pathological state in a ‘normal’ environment. Because the problem of obesity is so widespread in modem societies, it suggests that the opposite is almost certainly true, i.e. that the spectrum of body sizes from lean to obese represents the normal variations of physiology and, within a ‘pathological’ environment (which favours obesity), many more are at the obese end of the spectrum. However, there are still problems with this approach. The fat balance equation above describes the changes in fat stores that occur within a given individual over time. It is less clear how differences in body fat between individuals arise. Why is it that some people remain relatively lean when they seem to have the same sort of lifestyle as others who are overfat? It also fails to explain the differences in obesity prevalence between populations. To explain this requires an expanded approach.

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SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS: HYSTERECTOMY

A hysterectomy for endometriosis is surgery which involves the removal of the uterus and as many remaining endometrial implants and adhesions as possible. It may also involve the removal of one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes.

A hysterectomy is often said to be the only cure for endometriosis apart from the natural menopause. However, it does not always cure endometriosis, especially if the ovaries are not removed.

A hysterectomy in which the uterus and cervix are removed is known as a total abdominal hysterectomy (often abbreviated to a TAH). Sometimes all or part of an ovary and/or fallopian tube will be removed at the same time if they are diseased but at least part of one ovary is always left.

Following a total abdominal hysterectomy a woman will no longer menstruate but she will continue to ovulate until the time of her natural menopause.

A hysterectomy which involves the removal of the uterus and cervix as well as both fallopian tubes and ovaries is known as a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy and oophorectomy (often abbreviated to a TAH and BSO). It is also sometimes known as a radical hysterectomy.

Following a radical hysterectomy a woman will no longer menstruate or ovulate and she will undergo the menopause almost immediately.

To simplify matters and avoid confusion we will refer to a total abdominal hysterectomy as a total hysterectomy; and a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy and oophorectomy as a radical hysterectomy. We will use the term hysterectomy if we are referring collectively to both types.

Who is suitable for a hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is usually only used as a last resort to treat women whose endometriosis is so chronic and their symptoms so severe that their quality of life is intolerable. The most common reasons that women with endometriosis have a hysterectomy are the persistence of intractable and incapacitating pain or severe and persistent heavy bleeding. It should not be used, except in a few rare life threatening situations, until a range of other hormonal and surgical treatments have been tried without success.

Things to think about before a hysterectomy

The decision whether or not to have a hysterectomy involves two or three separate decisions. Firstly, you need to decide whether or not to have a hysterectomy. Secondly, you need to decide whether or not to have your ovaries removed. Thirdly, if your ovaries are removed, you need to decide whether or not to have hormone replacement therapy.

Hysterectomy or not

When a woman is faced with the decision of whether or not to have a hysterectomy she has almost invariably had a harrowing and traumatic fight with unrelenting endometriosis for many years. Her symptoms are usually so severe and persistent that they have taken over her life completely and there is no other way out. The decision to have a hysterectomy simply becomes a quality of life issue.

Nevertheless, most women have to hit rock bottom and cross that ‘invisible barrier’ of knowing emotionally that they have reached the end of their tether before they can make the decision to have a hysterectomy.

The decision to have a hysterectomy should be yours and yours alone. Do not allow anyone else — your gynaecologist, your partner, your mother or your best friend — to make the decision for you. You have to live with the decision, not them.

The decision must also be made at your pace. Do not let yourself be pressured into making a hasty decision just because your gynaecologist or someone else wants an answer by a certain date. Only you will know when you have finally reached the end of your tether so take as much time as you need. If you have to ask yourself whether or not you are ready for a hysterectomy then you aren’t.

Even though you must make the final decision it will usually be beneficial if you discuss your options with your gynaecologist, partner, family and friends, as well as other women who have been through the same operation. It is often worthwhile talking to a counsellor to help explore and resolve the issues.

Before you make a final decision get as much information as you need about the operation and its likely consequences. Do not hesitate to ask your gynaecologist any questions that you may have. If you have any doubts about the need for the operation get a second, or even a third, opinion.

Women who make the decision themselves and at their own pace usually recover more quickly and have less physical and emotional problems following their surgery.

Deciding to have a hysterectomy is a major and irreversible decision that will affect all aspects of your life. In making the decision you need to consider both the physical and emotional aspects.

You need to think about the degree to which your quality of life is compromised by your endometriosis and weigh that up against the likely advantages and disadvantages that the surgery will bring.

A hysterectomy will probably mean much less pain and disability. It will also mean that you cannot have children in the future so you will have to decide whether retaining your possible ability to have children is more important to you than relief from your symptoms and getting on with life. Your sexual response will probably change too — for better or worse — but you will not know how until after you have had the surgery.

You need to think about what effect not having all of your reproductive organs will have on your self-image. You may also need to consider the reactions of others after you have had a hysterectomy and what effect that will have on your relationships with them.

Ovaries removed or retained

The decision whether or not to have your ovaries removed is an extremely complex and difficult one because at the present time there are no clear answers regarding the pros and cons of removing or retaining the ovaries.

Some gynaecologists routinely remove the ovaries in women with endometriosis, others base their decision on the extent and severity of the woman’s disease and her age, while still others routinely retain them except under special circumstances.

It is extremely important that you find out what your gynaecologist intends to do and that you make your decision perfectly clear as to whether you want your ovaries removed or retained.

If you retain your ovaries you will not undergo a premature menopause but there will be a greater likelihood that your endometriosis will persist or recur. Unfortunately, it is not known how often endometriosis persists or recurs following a total hysterectomy: the few statistics in the medical journals range from around 10% to 85%.

Many gynaecologists believe that the ovaries should be retained in the majority of cases as they believe that the risk of recurrence is low and the risks of a premature menopause are considerable.

If your ovaries are removed you will undergo a premature menopause and have less likelihood of having a recurrence of endometriosis because it does not recur if you do not produce oestrogen. It is estimated that as few as 3% to 5% of women will have a recurrence if their ovaries are removed. The unusual cases where endometriosis recurs following a radical hysterectomy are usually due to the fact that a piece of an ovary was left behind because the gynaecologist either could not see it or could not remove it safely.

Surgical menopause — menopause due to the surgical removal of the ovaries — is usually more severe than the natural menopause because it occurs instantaneously in a younger woman whose hormone levels are higher. The drop in the hormone levels is both dramatic and sudden and many women will experience significant symptoms as a result.

Most women will experience the early symptoms of the menopause soon after their surgery — often within 24 to 48 hours. The most common early symptoms are hot flushes and night sweats. Some women will also experience tiredness and lethargy and sometimes depression, particularly if their hot flushes and night sweats stop them sleeping.

After a couple of months most women will start to experience some of the other effects of menopause. These include a dry vagina, which may cause painful intercourse, a change in sexual response, decreased libido and decreased breast size.

The main long-term effects associated with surgical menopause are a substantially increased likelihood of developing heart disease and osteoporosis later in life.

Hormone replacement therapy or not

The decision whether or not to have hormone replacement therapy if your ovaries are removed is difficult and complex because there is considerable controversy about the role of hormone replacement therapy following a radical hysterectomy for endometriosis.

Hormone replacement therapy is the administration of synthetic hormones to replace those which were previously produced by the ovaries in order to prevent or minimise the effects of menopause. It usually involves the use of both synthetic oestrogen and progesterone but sometimes only synthetic oestrogen is used.

The two main forms of administration are tablets and implants and there are a variety of strengths which can be used depending on the severity of your menopausal symptoms.

The most common side effects of hormone replacement therapy are nausea and sore breasts, although in the long-term it is possibly associated with a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy will prevent or reduce the effects of surgical menopause but it may also slightly increase the likelihood that you will have a persistence or recurrence of your endometriosis.

Hormone replacement therapy will prevent or reduce most of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats and a dry vagina. More importantly it will significantly reduce the likelihood that you will develop heart disease or osteoporosis later in life.

There is a risk that the oestrogen component of hormone replacement therapy will lead to a persistence or recurrence of the implants remaining in your body. Many gynaecologists believe that because the concentrations of hormones used are much lower than those produced by the ovary the risk of recurrence is small — probably only about 3% to 5%.

Nevertheless, some gynaecologists recommend waiting a minimum of three to six months after a radical hysterectomy before starting hormone replacement therapy. This delay should allow any remaining endometrial implants to degenerate and waste away, reducing the chances that it will cause a persistence or recurrence of your endometriosis.

Some gynaecologists suggest that using only a synthetic progesterone such as Provera, rather than both oestrogen and progesterone, as an interim measure for the first few months after surgery will reduce the likelihood of recurrence while still providing some relief from the early symptoms of surgical menopause.

If you are unlucky enough to have/ a recurrence of your symptoms of endometriosis while on hormone replacement therapy it may be possible to treat the recurrence by stopping or adjusting the dosage. It may also be possible to treat it by having a course of one of the standard hormonal treatments such as Provera or Danazol.

If you do not take hormone replacement therapy you will have a reduced likelihood of having a persistence or recurrence of your endometriosis but you will probably experience the effects of surgical menopause and you will have an increased likelihood of developing heart disease and osteoporosis later in life.

A few women continue to produce enough oestrogen in their bodies to prevent or minimise the effects of surgical menopause. Many women will experience marked symptoms and, although they are often disruptive and unpleasant, some women find that they are easier to cope with than their endometriosis symptoms.

Some women have found that they have been able to prevent or minimise the symptoms of surgical menopause by having a good diet, particularly one high in foods which contain natural oestrogens such as grains, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements, regular vigorous exercise and regular sexual activity.

Risks and complications of hysterectomy

The risks and complications of a hysterectomy are the same as those outlined for a laparotomy.

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MENSTRUAL CYCLE: MENSTRUATION (THE MENSTRUAL PERIOD)

The menstrual cycle involves a series of hormonal events which occur at fairly regular intervals. The average menstrual cycle is approximately 28 days, although this may vary considerably between women. The menstrual cycle involves four distinct phases:

Day 1-5: menstruation (the menstrual period);

Day 3-13: the proliferative or follicular phase;

Day 14: ovulation;

Day 15-28: the luteal or secretory phase.

Although the first day of menstruation is usually referred to as the start of the menstrual cycle, the menstrual period (days 1-5) is actually the culmination of the hormonal changes which make up the menstrual cycle.

Menstruation (the menstrual period)-If the ovum is not fertilised the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum decreases. This causes the endometrium to break down and bleed. This bleeding is known as a menstrual period. The menstrual flow consists of endometrial cells, blood, secretions and possibly the unfertilised egg.

*8\83\2*

VITAMIN E CAN SAVE YOUR HEART

This is where vitamin E enters the heart picture as a miraculous heart saver! Whether it be for an already damaged heart or as a safety measure to prevent an attack, vitamin E is an indispensable aid.

Vitamin E oxygenates the tissues and markedly reduces the need for oxygen. It also has an anti-blood-clotting ability. This anti-coagulant quality of vitamin E prevents deaths through thrombosis or a blood clot. Yet, vitamin E is completely harmless and does not interfere with normal blood clotting in a wound or with the normal healing processes. It has been demonstrated that vitamin E is a dilator of blood vessels, and thus can improve impaired circulation and prevent clots. Vitamin E also prevents production of excessive scar tissue; it even has an ability to melt away unwanted scars. This property is of extreme importance in heart attacks where part of the heart tissue is destroyed.

All of these functions of vitamin E are scientifically confirmed in extensive clinical experiments in many parts of the world. As Evan S. Shute, M.D., of the Shute Foundation of London, Ontario, Canada, the foremost authority on using vitamin E in the treatment of heart disease, says, “Vitamin E is the most valuable ally the cardiologist has yet found in the treatment of heart disease … It is the key both to the prevention and treatment of all those conditions in which a lack of blood supply due to thickened or blocked blood vessels or a lack of oxygen is a factor or the whole story of the disease.”

It should be self-evident that anyone concerned with the health of the heart should make sure that his diet contains ample amounts of vitamin E. Foods rich in vitamin E are: wheat germ oil, wheat germ, whole grains, unrefined cold-pressed vegetable oils, raw nuts and seeds. But, of course, vitamin E is virtually nonexistent in processed cereals, processed oils, and white flour products. The richest natural source of vitamin E is wheat germ oil—as high as 240 mg. per 100 grams. You can also buy vitamin E in capsule form from your drug or health food store.

Of course, if you have already had a heart attack and are under your doctor’s care, it would be advisable not to experiment with any treatment on your own. Show him this chapter and ask his advice on using vitamin E and vitamin E-rich foods. Most doctors who are not too busy to read their professional publications are aware of the benefits of vitamin E. If your doctor is not, it might be advisable to find another doctor; your life may be at stake.

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SYSTEM OF PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS: HOW EUROPEAN PREVENTIVE AND RECONDITIONING PROGRAMS SAVE LIVES

The United States has the highest incidence of heart disease of all the civilized countries; Russia has the lowest! The reason is.’ simple: We are looking for a cure—the Russians are concentrating on prevention. The governments of the Soviet Union and other European countries have built over 3,000 rural reconditioning centers where over five million people are treated each year. Tense, fatigued and malnourished workers and executives are given four weeks of reconditioning “treatment,” which consists of proper health-building diet, environmental emotional relaxation, and systematic physical training. In addition, they are instructed in rules of good health, proper nutrition and the need for proper exercise, which will guide them when they return to their homes.

Russia also has a nation-wide program of regular physical exercises for everyone, beginning with the schools and continuing with the regular radio-conducted morning calisthenics and exercise breaks in offices and factories.

In West Germany, Switzerland and Austria there are similar preventive programs, financed by governments, insurance companies and private industries. Most heart reconditioning centers are located in the healthy environment of the Alps and the Black Forest of south Germany.

The results of these European preventive programs are there for all to see: the absentee figures among workers visiting these reconditioning centers in Germany have dropped nearly 70 percent in two years;1 and Russia, as we have seen, has the lowest incidence of heart disease in any civilized country.

*80\58\2*

VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR ARTHRITIS TREATMENT

Impaired adrenal function is one of the major characteristics of arthritis. It has been shown in clinical research (by Morgan, Wick-son and others) that prolonged deficiency in vitamin C and the two B vitamins, pantothenic acid and B2, can severely damage the adrenals and result in decreased cortisone production. Vitamin C increases the production and utilization of cortisone.

Therefore, biologically oriented doctors advise heavy doses of vitamin C, 1,-500 to 3,000 mg. a day, in the treatment of arthritis. This should be a natural vitamin C, made from rose hips, acerola berries, green peppers, or other natural sources. Natural vitamin C contains, in addition to ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids (vitamin P) — citrin, hesperidin, rutin—which always accompany vitamin C in its natural state, and which make ascorbic acid biologically more effective and potent.

Vitamin Bi2 is also used in the treatment of arthritis with good results. Dosage: 10 to 25 meg. a day.

Another vitamin useful in treating arthritis is vitamin E. Some researchers suggest that scar tissue, which forms around the joints in arthritis, could develop as a result of vitamin E deficiency.2 The usually recommended dosage is 300 to 600 I.U. a day.

Minerals are also considered extremely important in the treatment of arthritis. Disturbances in the body’s mineral metabolism are usually indicated in arthritis. Therefore, the restoration of proper mineral balance in the tissues is imperative for an effective and fast recovery.

European clinics use various mineral preparations. For the United States, the mineral supplements most useful and easily obtainable would be kelp and bone meal. Recommended doses are reported to be 10 kelp and 10 bone meal tablets a day. Kelp is especially beneficial for arthritis sufferers. It could be used as salt replacement in the seasoning of salads, soups, and other foods. In Japan, where kelp (seaweed) is used extensively as an important part of the daily diet, arthritis is virtually non-existent.

*72\58\2*

SCHLENZ-BATH FOR INCURABLE DISEASES

Back in 1932, Maria Schlenz, an Austrian lay-woman, wrote a remarkable book, So Heilt Man Unheilbar Scheinende Krankheiten —So Are Cured Incurable Diseases. After the second World War her method was scientifically tested and later incorporated into the standard arsenal of therapies in many university hospitals. Now the Schlenz-method of overheating therapy is employed widely in Europe, particularly by the biological clinics. Prof. Werner Zabel, the leading biological doctor in Germany, uses Schlenz-bath in his clinic in Berchtesgaden and testifies that it indeed does cure “incurable” diseases.

Here is how the curative Schlenz-bath is taken:

First, the patient should not eat for at least two hours before treatment. If possible, the bladder and the colon should be emptied. The bath tub should be as large and as deep as possible. Most American type tubs are too small for this treatment. European bath tubs are about twice the size of the average American tub.

The patient must be totally covered with water, including his head; only his nose, eyes and mouth—and as little as possible of them—should be left uncovered. Start with a low temperature of about 36° C, or approximately the temperature of the skin. Let warm water run slowly from the faucet and stir constantly. In 15 to 20 minutes bring the temperature in the tub to about 38 or 39 degrees centigrade, later up to 40 and perhaps a little higher, depending on the patient’s reaction. The length of the treatment is about one hour. Since the temperature in the Schlenz-bath is not very high (some may remark that they take a tub bath hotter than this), how could this bath possibly have a curative effect? The secret is that if the body is totally covered by water there is no heat escape from the body and its temperature will invariably rise to match the temperature of the water.

The Schlenz-bath, if given to sick patients, must be supervised. Pulse should not go over 130 or 140. The temperature of the water should be controlled at all times with a thermometer. If the patient feels any discomfort, he should be raised out of the water to a sitting position for awhile. It is also recommended that the nurse massage the patient with a stiff-bristled brush during the bath. This brings the blood to the surface of the skin and relieves the heart from undue pressure.

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HOW TO PLAN YOUR LOW-ANIMAL-PROTEIN DIET FOR BETTER HEALTH AND PREVENTION OF DISEASE

In practical terms, for the profitable application of the information in this chapter and the assurance of optimal health and the prevention of disease and premature aging, abide by the following rules with regard to protein in your diet:

Eliminate, or cut drastically, all meat from your diet. If you insist on animal protein, ocean fish and eggs are preferable to meat.

Raw, unpasteurized milk and milk products such as soured milk, yogurt, kefir, and homemade cottage cheese are good, wholesome sources of complete proteins. Use them to complement the protein sources of vegetable origin, such as:

Whole grains, seeds, lentils and nuts. Soybeans are particularly rich in complete proteins, which are superior to meat protein. Sesame seeds, millet and sunflower seeds are also great protein sources. Millet and buckwheat can be used to make delicious cereals. Sesame seeds are nutritious and delicious in the form of homemade Halvah. Sunflower seeds should be eaten raw, as they are, or ground and sprinkled on fruit salads or other dishes. Whole wheat and rye breads from freshly-ground flour are rich in good proteins; so are Kruska, Molino and other whole grain cereals, particularly in combination with milk. All kinds of beans and peas should be used liberally in your diet; their proteins are not complete, but nevertheless they are high-grade proteins which are rendered complete in combination with other foods. Nuts are excellent sources of protein, especially almonds, cashews and peanuts. Nuts should always be eaten raw, not roasted.

Many readers do not know how to use all these seeds and nuts, especially older people who do not have good teeth to chew them raw. Here’s good advise: buy a tiny seed grinder! Health food stores or drug stores usually have several varieties to offer at prices from $9.00 to $12.00. In a few seconds you can grind to a fine powder any of the grains, seeds, or nuts and use them conveniently mixed with other foods or blended with milk or juices. Of course, they also could be liquefied in an ordinary blender, or osterizer, mixed with water, milk or juice.

Do not ignore vegetables as a protein source. Green leafy vegetables contain complete proteins of the highest biological value. Potatoes are a very good source of complete proteins. Potatoes should be boiled or baked whole with their jackets on.

Fortify your diet with such high-protein sources as wheat germ and brewer’s yeast. Two or three tablespoons of wheat germ a day will give you a large amount of good protein in addition to a Virtual gold mine of vitamins and minerals. A half cup of raw wheat germ contains 24 grams of protein, more than in a quarter-pound of beef! A pound of raw wheat germ, which costs about 30 cents, gives you over 100 grams of protein. Brewer’s yeast, or food yeast, is an even better source of protein than wheat germ. Two tablespoons of yeast contain as much protein as half a cup of wheat germ, or more than a quarter-pound hamburger.

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ACTUAL REPORTED CASES OF CURES

This whole book could be filled with many remarkable cases of cures accomplished by the application of Waerland therapies. There is a book published by Ny Nord Forlag, in Sweden, called WAERLAND-DIET SAVED OUR LIVES, in which 50 ex-patients, who suffered with everything from cancer to psoriasis, tell about their cures with the help of Waerland therapies. The Swedish health magazine, Tidskrift for Halsa, has reported hundreds of cases of cures accomplished by Waerland therapies in Swedish biological clinics. Here are a few cases to illustrate the point.

Mrs. Dorothy Olson, H66r, Sweden, suffered from severe hereditary asthma and was considered by doctors to be incurable. She also suffered from a bad case of migraine, which made her bedridden four to five days each month. She lived on frankfurters and coffee— up to 15 cups of coffee each day. After three months on a drastic Waerland program of fasting and strict diet, her asthma, as well as her migraine, were completely cured, never to come back.

Mrs. Irma Ericksson, Enshede, Sweden, suffered from chronic ulcerative colitis, a very serious bowel inflammation with bleeding ulcers. Her case was so bad that some days she had up to 40 stools. She suffered from this disease for 20 years, during which time she was treated by Sweden’s best doctors. Once she stayed at Stockholm’s St. Erik’s Hospital for 12 months and was treated with many drugs, including cortisone. The cortisone treatment didn’t help, but its side effect was a severe edema—she was swollen up with 20 pounds of extra water in her body, especially in her legs and face.

She started Waerland therapy with ten days of fasting, then had prescribed for her by a biologically-oriented doctor a special Dr. Ritters 10-day wheat diet. After this she started slowly with raw foods, with intermittent three-day fasts. After three months of treatments her ulcers were healed. After three more months all cramps and other symptoms were gone and her stomach and digestion were functioning quite normally. Examination and extensive tests at the hospital revealed that her ulcerative colitis was completely healed. Needless to say, her edema disappeared as well. Doctors considered her case so remarkable that they wanted her to come for periodic controls. Her case was studied and analyzed by the interns at the medical school. Now Mrs. Eriksson lives a normal life, works, exercises a lot, and skiis in the winter. Her diet consists mostly of yogurt, graham porridge (Molino), raw vegetables, and especially lots of raw fruits of all kinds.

Mr. Knut Rosberg, Stockholm. The most remarkable case of cure by fasting is the case of Mr. Rosberg. He had suffered from gastric and duodenal ulcers for 22 years, off and on, and during the last two years was never without pain. Then, in 1954, he participated in the famous Swedish fast march, described in Chapter 2 of this book. It was a pure water fast for 10 days, during which the participants .walked 300 miles from Gothenburg to Stockholm. The examination by X-rays one month after the fast march showed that he had no trace of an ulcer, not even a scar in his stomach and duodenum, where before the fast he had had as many as 15 ulcers.

Miss Monica Widlund, Eskilstuna, Sweden, was stricken by arthritis at a very early age. She was only two and a half years old. Doctors could not find the cause of the disease, nor were they able to help her during her many long stays at the hospitals. She was treated with cold injections and many drugs. In spite of the treatments she was becoming progressively worse. At the age of eight she was so bad that once she had to be carried home from school.

That year, 1954, she underwent biological therapy at the Brandal Clinic with two weeks of fasting followed by several weeks of raw food diet. She returned home completely restored to health. Nine years later, in 1963, she was interviewed and found to be in perfect health. She has never, had a relapse and she now lives a perfectly normal life for a teenager—dances, plays and participates in sports.

Mr. T. J. Andersson, Bandhagen, Sweden, had high blood pressure, a ruptured disk and was severely overweight; he was 5′7″ and weighed 220 pounds.

He started with a one-month fast, then continued with a lacto-vegetarian diet. Later he adopted a strict raw vegetable diet, with no bread, cooked cereals or milk. After several months of alternating dieting and fasting he went down to his normal weight of 140 pounds, his blood pressure became normal, and he had only bad memories left of his ruptured disk. His favorite exercise is swimming. He swims every morning, even while fasting. Almost an invalid a few years ago, T. J. Andersson now swims 1,000 meters in 18-19 minutes I

Mrs. Greta Forsberg, Fors, Sweden, was born with psoriasis—a chronic skin disorder considered incurable by medical science. Her case was so bad that practically her entire body was affected, with the exception of her face and hands. She was treated at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm with vitamins A and B plus paraffin-baths. The vitamin A treatment resulted in a temporary improvement, but didn’t cure the problem.

On the advice of a Swedish chiropractor, she went to the clinic in Bjorkagarden. There she received the usual biological treatments: one week’s fasting, enemas, therapeutic baths, dry brushing, etc. The other important treatment was massage with almond oil each evening.

Improvement began immediately after the first two days of fasting. The typical white scaling diminished in quantity. After one week of fasting, about one-half of the affected area was improved. The improvement continued slowly during the special diet of vegetable foods, mostly raw fruits and vegetables.

. “After two weeks I was so fantastically improved that I didn’t believe my eyes. For the first time in my 46 years I could put on nylon stockings. Before I always had to use thick non-transparent stockings to hide my horrible looking legs,” said Mrs. Forsberg.

Now Mrs. Forsberg is reported to be completely cured of her “incurable” psoriasis. On the advice of the Bjorkagarden clinic, she fasts one week each month and continues with the vegetarian diet, although she admits that she is not always 100 percent consistent.

Her regular juice fasting is as follows:

Breakfast: one glass of apricot juice and one glass of water.

Lunch: one glass of natural grape juice and water.

Dinner: a big bowl of vegetable broth.* The same before going to bed.

Between “meals”: pure, luke-warm water to make up a total liquid consumption during 24 hours of about three quarts.

Mrs. Elsa Eriksson, Lilla Essingen, Stockholm, was stricken with a double breast cancer 17 years ago, at the age of 40. The examination at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm showed that there were distinct tumors in both breasts. Also the lymphatic glands were affected. Doctors insisted on an immediate operation the following week.

“I had no desire to be cut. I wanted to think it over. My brother informed me of the Waerland system and I went to visit a well-known naturopathic doctor in Stockholm,” said Mrs. Eriksson. On his advice, she started her biological treatments which consisted of short fasts and a raw juice diet: After five weeks of fasting on water and juices she finally started with a raw food diet. About that time, she was called to Karolinska Institute for a final examination before the operation. After extensive examination, doctors, to their great surprise, could only declare that the tumors in both breasts had totally disappeared. There was no reason to operate!

Mrs. Eriksson’s case is well-documented with extensive examinations by renowned doctors. She visited the same hospital three to five times each year for the next five years for examination. Each time the examination revealed that the tumors had disappeared and that her health condition was good. Sixteen years after the cancer was diagnosed, she was still, at the age of 56, in perfect health and free from cancer. Naturally she faithfully continues with the diet which saved her from the cancer operation.

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THE VALUE OF COLD SHOWER

The invigorating, rejuvenating and health-restoring power of hot and cold water is well established—both by tradition and the experiences of thousands of years of actual application, and by the studies of modern science. In Chapter 8 I will tell you of the magic power of the overheating baths for healing purposes. In this chapter so far I have shown you several ways of using cold water for improving or restoring your health. One of the simplest and easiest forms of homemade water cure treatment is an ordinary shower.

Cold shower treatment has a special tonic-like magic of exerting an exceedingly beneficial effect on the entire system. Here’s what a simple good old cold shower can do for you:

It will stimulate circulation and increase muscle tone and nerve force.

It will stimulate the glandular system, especially the adrenal glands, to increased hormone production.

It will speed metabolism and improve digestion.

It has a powerful influence on the central nervous system, the brain, and all the vital organs of the body.

It will build up your resistance against colds and infections.

It will help to prevent premature aging and keep you younger longer.

As you see, it is a real life-elixir! And it’s free and so easy to take!

In Swedish biological clinics the cold shower is used extensively, especially in treatment of rheumatic diseases.

A cold shower is a real beauty bath, too. The cold water on the upturned face is one of the best beauty treatments known. It tightens the skin, prevents wrinkles and promotes a healthy, radiant complexion. Even if you take a warm bath or shower, always finish with a cold shower, at least on the face.

It has been shown that a cold shower actually increases the blood count. Some doctors also claim that a cold shower is mildly electronic in action and increases the intake of oxygen to a remarkable degree. And, as you know, oxygen is life itself. The more oxygen in your blood and your cells, the better your health.

So, by all means, treat yourself to a cold shower—this simplest and cheapest water cure method—each morning and evening]

Dr. Henry Lindlahr summed the value of a water cure, based on his own experience, in these words: “There is no such thing as a ‘cure-all’—any remedy or panacea for all ailments—but if there were such a thing, it would be cold water, properly applied.”

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