Antidepressants Blog

You may be confused by the distinction made between the ‘natural’ and the ‘synthetic’ hormones of HRT. When your doctor describes a particular HRT hormone as natural, this means that it is broken down according to a normal biological pathway of the body. For this to occur, it must have the same structure as a hormone produced by the woman, or a very similar one. Examples of natural oestrogens include Progy-nova, Ogen, Premarin, Estraderm, Oestradiol Implants and micronised Oestradiol (a component of Trisequens). There are, however, significant differences between the architecture of these various forms of oestrogen and the effects they have on the body. Some lower your blood pressure, while others do not alter it; some seem to affect moods more than others. These effects are especially pronounced in particular women.

When doctors talk of synthetic hormones, they are referring to hormones that are structurally different from those produced by the body and are not broken down or converted into other substances in the usual ways. One synthetic oestrogen widely prescribed for the treatment of menopausal symptoms until the mid-1980s, and still on the market, is Estigyn. This contains ethinyl oestradiol, a common component of the contraceptive pill and a far more powerful oestrogen, in terms of its effect on body tissues, than the natural oestrogens.

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It is unusual to experience aches in the muscles that are not the result of over-using the muscles, or of a viral infection such as influenza. However, they are a feature of post-viral syndrome or, if severe, they may indicate a disease known as polymyalgia rheumatica. Tension can produce muscle aches, especially in the neck, shoulders and face. Misaligned vertebra can also produce aches and pains in the back, shoulders and neck, and these may respond to treatment by an osteopath.

More generalized, but mild, muscle aches may also be a symptom of food intolerance, although this is unusual. One group of food-intolerant patients who regularly include muscle aches among their symptoms are hyperactive Children.

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On examining the life-style of such people we can generally find the following basic characteristics. Their life is simple and they are moderate in their ways. They work, but do not go without time spent in rest and relaxation. They do not go short on sleep and know how to retire, in the proper sense of the word, when night falls; indeed, they are able to shut out the impressions of the day and forget whatever worries there might be. In fact, such people have the ability to overcome the ups and downs of life with a calm and cheerful spirit and without worrying themselves sick. Any problems are tackled with determination and are soon solved.

Admittedly, this way of life cannot prevent old age but it does keep one young and flexible inside. Such people are content with the experience and maturity age has given them, knowing that these qualities compensate for their former youthful agility and energy. This attitude helps them to use their energy reserves moderately even at a highly advanced age, rather than squandering them in senseless pursuits. It is no doubt an art not to let the many worries and annoyances irritate and upset us too much and, instead, think more about the good and beautiful things, showing grateful appreciation for them. But this art can be learned and it is worthwhile doing so, since it helps to make the twilight of one’s life more pleasant and happy.

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Cancer specialists will tell you that cancer cells are cells that lack oxygen. Doctors specialising in rheumatism, arthritis, diabetes and similar diseases have also pointed to oxygen deficiency in their patients. We must therefore conclude that modern man may have money and all sorts of conveniences but he lacks oxygen. In fact, many diabetics would not enter a coma if they were made to increase their oxygen intake early enough.

Let me illustrate this by an experience I have already mentioned elsewhere in my publications. A doctor once spent his vacations in the mountains together with a diabetic friend. When he realised that his friend’s condition was threatening to send him into a coma he resorted to a ruse to save his life. Having no insulin on hand, the doctor could see the patient getting weaker and more listless and knew that the only way he could help was to oblige the man to walk faster, or better still, run, in order to get rid of the acetone in the lungs and make him inhale more oxygen. To force his friend to do this, the doctor had to try and make him angry and did this by whispering something in his ear! As expected, the sick man turned on his doctor friend furiously and then ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. The excitement and movement provided the man with the oxygen he needed to prevent him going into a coma. Later, when he found out that his friend had made him angry only in order to save his life, he was most grateful and both men rejoiced over the successful outcome.

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Chinese cooks prefer not to boil vegetables until they are soft; instead, they leave them about 20 per cent raw. In this condition they may taste somewhat bitter and so must be properly seasoned to make them more palatable. But the Chinese cooks know their job and prepare their food in such a way that you will enjoy it, even though you may have to chew more than with food prepared the European way. They also use a wider variety of spices and condiments, for example, curry and soy sauces, various kinds of peppers and all sorts of spicy pods that resemble red and black chillies. Moreover, they almost always include a little seaweed, which, although not much of a taste in itself, adds something to Chinese dishes that is unique.

Centuries of tradition lie behind Chinese cuisine and its habitual use of seaweed, and this ingredient is appreciated for the sake of its minerals and trace elements that are so necessary to our health. This goodness is present in very small quantities, or not at all, in other plants, and the ancient Chinese must have used seaweed instinctively as they would not have known about these substances. However, they must have been good observers and noticed that nature offers us many things that may not be visible to the eye, nor tangible, but are nevertheless of vital importance to us. This precious gift of observation has no doubt contributed to the way in which Chinese cuisine has developed. Even though much else has been forgotten that once was an intrinsic part of their culture, the Chinese people still benefit from this tradition, as they have for thousands of years.

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Some time ago I received a letter with the following query: ‘The other day I read in a book on diet reform that preserved fruits and those bottled hot have no nutritional value. I have been wondering about this, because during the past year I have bottled a quantity of fruit, thinking it would have greater food value than fruit commercially canned.’

I would like to answer this enquiry in print because it will be of interest to everyone. It is quite true that in preserving fruits and vegetables by the heat process many of the vitamins are destroyed. However, the statement about preserved fruits having no nutritional value is absolutely untrue. The actual nutrients, such as carbohydrates, sugar, starch and minerals, remain unchanged and for this reason preserved fruits and vegetables do have considerable food value, assuming that a natural process is used to preserve them.

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If fasting has improved your well-being, do not encourage a friend or neighbour who suffers from Graves’ disease (exophthalmic goitre) or tuberculosis to undertake the same treatment. Such a course would definitely be harmful because you cannot cure these two diseases by fasting. Be very careful, therefore, about recommending a fast to others. A long and complete fast might also prove dangerous to people with certain types of heart trouble, even though the fruit juice diet would make it less strenuous since the body is being nourished to the necessary extent while the work of cleansing is going on. If a liver disorder is suspected, take vegetable juices or Vogel’s vegetable juice mixture, rather than fruit juices, because the fruit acids do not usually agree with the patient. Carrot juice is particularly good in such cases. You see, then, that each case should be considered individually with respect to what one can or cannot do.

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Before carrying out the cure, it would be useful to take a natural plant remedy that helps to liquify the bile, for example Boldocy-nara made from artichokes and other medicinal herbs.

If a chronic condition suddenly flares up again, accompanied by a high temperature and an increase in the number of white blood corpuscles, there is most likely an inflammation. In that case, the patient unfortunately has no alternative but to undergo surgery to remove the gallbladder. This is not the ultimate solution, however, because after the operation condensed bile will no longer be available; it cannot accumulate as it previously had done in the gallbladder that now no longer exists. The bile entering the duodenum will always be thin and fresh and if digestive disturbances are to be avoided, a protein- and fat-restricted diet will have to be adopted thereafter. Thus, if the oil treatment can bring the desired cure, the patient will escape the need for surgery and the undesirable consequences it brings with it.

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Another advantage of brown rice is that it is nutritious and can sustain one over a long period of time. It is filling too, so that even a small quantity is satisfying. This is good for the pancreas, an organ that is often weakened through eating excessive quantities of food. If we stick to a natural diet, chew well, eat slowly and insalivate the food before swallowing, the pancreas is being helped to recover and efficient intestinal activity is more likely. Even small mistakes in eating habits can rob us of the vital elements so necessary for good digestion. At any rate, it is advisable to limit the intake of starchy foods and supplement the diet with vegetables and salads. Sesame seeds, eaten daily, are also helpful. And let me remind you once again, when choosing your menu, be sensible and avoid items or combinations that cause fermentation and flatulence.

So, if the pancreas should be too weak to digest starchy foods, we must take good care of it and do everything we can to restore it to its normal and full capacity. Only then will it be able to help us digest a reasonable amount of starchy food in the future.

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Psychological problems and disturbances lead to reactions in the physical body as well. Knowing of this interaction, it is necessary to treat the body, the physical problem, in order to relieve the psychological disorder. The reverse is also true, in that physical afflictions leave their mark on the mind of the patient to such an extent that his mental balance may be upset. Every psychotherapist will confirm that mental conditions can be responsible for physical ailments, and that organic problems can affect the mind so severely that the patient becomes mentally unbalanced. For example, a malfunction of the ovaries or the male sex glands frequently gives rise to mental disturbance, which will disappear when the physical disorder has been corrected.

Generally speaking, the field of psychosomatic medicine is still mysterious and little explored, so that it is impossible to establish doctrines and principles that are valid in every case. Nevertheless, experience and observation have clearly shown that one-sided treatment is insufficient and often fails to achieve good results, whereas the treatment of the patient as a whole, a unit, is more likely to succeed.

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