Herbal Health

It is mainly young people and athletes who find it difficult to be sensible and not go beyond what is physically good for their health. There are times when they do not seem to understand the importance of warming up in order to help the muscles and internal organs to acquire sufficient elasticity. Sports physicians, gynaecologists and other specialists are well aware of this since they have to deal with the consequences of carelessness. We should not overtax ourselves to the point of exhaustion in our work, and how much less should this be done in sports activities! Those who go beyond what is reasonable when they are supposed to relax and restore their energies show a lack of knowledge and understanding. In some cases they are driven by ambition that, strictly speaking, creates an attitude which has nothing to do with sportsmanship.

It is impossible to establish general rules that would constitute an exact standard or yardstick regarding the energy we can safely spend, because each person has to take into account his constitution, his physical and mental reserves and, last but not least, his age. It really depends upon our individual capabilities and need for rest and sleep, which can vary enormously from one person to another. For this reason, what follows are only guidelines, intended to point you in the right direction regarding how much you can do.

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For several decades now there have been new materials and products on the market, based on fibres that are made synthetically by machines. The principle of manufacture is similar to the one used by the silk worm in making its fibre or thread. Indeed, every time man intends to produce a substitute for a natural material he has to learn from the marvels of nature. A liquid pressed through fine nozzles hardens into a tough thread when exposed to the air. The thread is then spun and woven like silk. The resulting artificial fibre, called nylon, perlon or other names, is of great importance to industry. However, is wearing such synthetic materials healthy and can it be recommended? The answer to this question is of great interest to the many patients whose letters have so often made this enquiry.

We can only base our answer on experience and observed facts; for example, these artificial fibres had hardly been on the market any time at all when many women began to complain of aches and pains after wearing stockings made from them. Synthetic lingerie produced the same unpleasant reactions, such as pain similar to that experienced with rheumatism. Yet it is strange that not all people are affected in the same way when wearing synthetic materials.

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What has been said about sunflower seeds applies equally to poppy seeds. As part of the diet these seeds are worthy of far more consideration than they have hitherto received. One should not be content with making a poppy seed cake once in a while, or on certain holidays during the year as they do in Hungary. Instead of putting them in cakes, poppy seeds should be eaten regularly. They do not contain opiates as some people think, as the opium is obtained from the seed capsule and not from the seeds themselves. It sometimes happens that fruits or nuts do have a slight trace of a harmful substance, for example the hydrocyanic acid contained in plums. However, this is no cause for worry. The substance is an integral part of the fruit and, as such, does not act in the same way as the pure, extracted acid would. It is only found in infinitesimal quantities, in what one could say was a homoeopathic potency, and far from being harmful, it can actually do some good.

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Imported vegetables can pose dangers if they are not 100 per cent clean and so are perhaps infected with typhoid bacilli or carriers of dysentery or some other infectious disease. If you live in a hot country or in the tropics, never eat any raw food or fruit that you cannot peel or disinfect. The same advice goes for anyone who travels to such countries. It as advisable to be scrupulous in this respect, for the damage is quickly done. When peeling fruit, do not forget to disinfect the skin first, since anything adhering to it can stick to your fingers and, in turn, infect the peeled fruit before you eat it. Constant caution is indispensable, even though it may make life a little more complicated.

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For years now I have no longer simply dug or turned over the garden or a field and spread the manure over the soil, in other words, applied a top-dressing. Rather, I cover the manured soil with grass, carrot tops or other vegetable waste, so that the organic manure, such as compost, cannot be dried out by the sun. I plant seedlings with a dipper, then spread freshly cut grass around them, about 1 cm (about Vi inch) thick. This top-dressing, or cover, is renewed after about three months when the soil is still moist, the bacteria have multiplied and the plants have grown much faster than when treated the usual way. This method has also given good results with berry bushes and shrubs. However, you must take care that the grass or weeds used are still young; do not use them when they contain ripe seeds.

This green manure will make hoeing unnecessary. And since any-germinating seeds under the green cover will suffocate and die, weeds will not be able to grow.

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Many an enthusiastic traveller may find the joys and expectations he is looking forward to dampened by so many precautionary measures and warnings. However, it is better to be sensible and take precautions, because being forewarned one can guard against any perilous circumstances to which one might otherwise fall victim. Among my closest friends I can count many who have had to pay dearly for their inexperience and ignorance of the hidden dangers awaiting the innocent traveller in the tropics, especially in recent years. Others, who have been obliged to live in the tropics for extended periods, have returned home with serious diseases or have died prematurely.

The precautionary measures mentioned in this section are not meant to spoil your expectations and joys of travelling; rather, they should serve as warnings and guidelines to help you to be adequately prepared before undertaking a trip. Preparation does

not mean cumbersome equipment added to the weight of your already heavy baggage. In fact, it is only a question of some valuable advice upon which you can draw when the need arises. The old adage ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is of special importance to the traveller in the tropics. For further hints and suggestions on this topic see my book Health Guide Through Southern Countries, Subtropics, Tropics, and Desert Zones.

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It is common knowledge that more men than women suffer from peptic ulcers (gastric and duodenal ulcers). The explanation for this fact may be that women are seldom affected by anger and tension to the same degree as men. Emotional stress, anxiety and annoyance are known to be the main causes of the development of gastric ulcers. But irritation of the stomach lining, especially when the condition persists or recurs frequently, may also be responsible. It is therefore important to isolate the causes of the irritation, since only then can they be effectively avoided. On no account should you eat very hot food and, at the same time, beware of ice-cream or iced water, unless you warm it sufficiently in the mouth before swallowing. And remember that hot spices, strong alcoholic drinks and potent medications can cause unwelcome irritation.

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The first and obvious thing to do is to avoid every agent that could be a possible cause. Your careful observation over a fairly long period may be necessary to determine exactly what is causing the allergy. Sometimes the sensitivity may be hereditary, which unfortunately makes it all the more difficult to overcome. Still, it is possible to train the body to slowly get used to the agents that have been causing problems and eventually to eliminate the annoying symptoms. This can be accomplished by regularly taking very minute quantities of the allergens in question. Another way to successfully treat the sensitivity is by raising the calcium level, which can be achieved by taking plenty of calcium in the form of Urticalcin. A further remedy for nettle rash is Violaforce, a fresh plant extract from wild pansy. This little plant blooms in mountain pastures before haymaking time and if you suffer from urticaria, you can also make a decoction from these to wash yourself with or add to the bath water.

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Needless to say, the scars themselves are far from negligible. One day, the last attack will come. A post-mortem will then reveal countless tiny scars which bear witness to the pain that accompanied each seizure and to the folly of refusing to give up smoking, preferring instead a smoker’s death. If you would rather not let it come to that sad ending, stop the dangerous habit that puts your life in jeopardy – give up smoking. Moderation in alcohol and meat consumption is also indicated, and if you are able to abstain from these altogether, so much the better for your heart and general health.

The woody partitions inside the walnut contain an excellent medicinal property from which you can benefit when taken as an infusion. Remove the dividing walls of four or five nuts, soak them in water for one day, leave overnight and then boil them for a few minutes the next morning. Drink the resulting tea in the morning on an empty stomach. When taken regularly it will alleviate the feeling of constriction and pain in the chest.

This infusion is also effective in cases of high temperature accompanied by pains in the heart. Some relief is frequently noticed after the first cup, but if the pains continue, the tea should be sipped frequently until they and the fever have disappeared.

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In the past buckwheat was more popular than it is today. Since this cereal, just like rice, serves as a remedy for high blood pressure, it should appear on our table for a change. It may be prepared in the same way as rice and can take its place along with cottage cheese and salads. One method of serving buckwheat is by cooking it in a vegetable broth to which has been added home-made tomato puree and finely chopped seasoning herbs. Leave to cool, then serve cold for supper, together with tomatoes and lettuce. Another variation is to mix cooked buckwheat gruel with onion, garlic and a little marjoram, let it cool and then fry like rissoles. Bon appetit!

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