Natural medicine against Behcet’s disease (sorry, English only)
Newly updated (version 2)- January 2002
Contact us for Hebrew translation, available for a small fee, which would help cover the costs of running this site.
The following is a taste of what's to come in a booklet to be published by the author of this article at a later date.
We hope you find it useful.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article should be used as a reference only. Always consult your Behcet's Disease specialist first!
This article is provided for information only. In no way should any of the information found in the article be used as a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other health care professional. Always check with your doctor if you have any concerns about your condition or treatment.
The writer of this article is not medically trained and is not liable in any way for any of the content of this article. This article is not edited by a Medical Doctor, and is in no way a substitute for medical advice or treatment.
This writer is not responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any form of damages whatsoever resulting from the use (or misuse) of information contained in or implied by the content of this article.
Note about herbs:
The herbs mentioned are only a small fraction of those used by herbalists, but most of their effects have not been verified by Commission E.
Information is based on the assumption that patients are living a healthy lifestyle and are not deficient in any vitamins/minerals. Such deficiencies should be corrected before supplementing with herbs etc.
About the author:
Tal Kinnersly has been a patient since early childhood. It was finally obvious to doctors she had a multi-systemic disease when she was eleven, and she was diagnosed with Behcet’s disease at the age of 17. The disease is now known to be very prevalent in her family, affecting her mother (as well as her mother and most of her siblings), her only brother, and both her children.
Born in Israel, she has been living in Japan for over a decade, where she works as a translator and checker of Japanese into English documents.
Tal has written extensively for the Behceteer newsletter, and has reported about Behcet’s conferences for Behcets Organisation Worldwide. She also wrote for the ABDA conference held in October 2001, will contribute to their upcoming cookbook and is scheduled to speak on their next conference in October 2003. Her Behcet Israel Group site was launched in August 2000, with the support of several international Behcet specialists, a support still growing.
Foreword and general well-being
I have been living with Behcet’s symptoms ever since I can remember myself, and have been a care-giver to both my BD children for nine years. Having tried many conventional therapies and my prognosis steadily worsening, I eventually gave up entirely on conventional wisdom, and went to look at the alternatives. Not everything worked, but some certainly did.
Realising my body is what I live in and with forever, I learned to treat it with a little more respect. I started avoiding chemicals whenever possible, fed myself better, and drank plenty of water.
Liquids have been proved time and again to wash toxins off, and it is never a bad idea to have a glass of clean water {1}. There are more reports all the time about the ill effects of chemicals in our food, drink, air and environment. I now live in a place with clean spring-water and good air. Not everybody can do that, but distilled water and air cleaners are a step in the right direction. Organic foodstuffs are gaining popularity and there is no need to grow your own anymore. So it is relatively easy now to do the basics.
Weather also seems to have a big impact on our general wellbeing. Dry, relatively warm weather has been reported to work best, particularly when accompanied by plenty of sunshine. Our body needs light to produce “ happy chemicals” {2}. Humidity seems to affect the joints, and there is a possible link between low-pressure fronts and worsening of symptoms {3}.
Next I checked what made me (or my children) more prone to flares. This is again very easy to do. All that is needed is a diary, a pen and some self-discipline for a few-weeks to a few months. Write down everything you eat and drink and all your activities in detail every day. Record all your symptoms, too, and after a few weeks start comparing the notes. You are almost sure to notice some patterns. In my daughter’s case, for example, we linked high-fat milk-products with difficulties in concentration. Check that your conclusion is accurate by eliminating the food/ activity or by reducing it. If it works, you got it right and you know what to do from there. Chances are there will be more than one thing. There are a few popular diets for BD patients, so you could start straight there and see if it works for you (Two such diets are Mr. Kevin Chow’s diet {5}, and an all-raws diet{6}).
In the case of toxins, there are two more things you can do. Exercise, and take plenty of antioxidants. Again, this is good advice whether you have BD or not, in a world such as ours. Man was used to exercising until recently and therefore needs it. We used to hunt and gather our food, farm and use less machinery for performing our daily tasks. To compensate for our convenient but lazy lifestyle, we must exercise {7}. A lot of chemicals and hormones are produced that way, that can help maintain our health. Regular exercise is also good against joint pain, fatigue and depression, all common complaints in BD patients, and it also helps maintain flexibility.
As for antioxidants, they fight the oxidants, as the name suggests, which degenerate our cells. They are usually perfectly safe, taken in the correct amount and pre-checked for drug inter-reactions. Of course, before taking anything at all, you must consult with your doctor. While vitamins A, C and E are famous for their antioxidant properties (as well as their many other beneficial attributes{8}), less known but no less potent herbs and molecules can also be used (see details below). Unfortunately, most of the information available on these comes from supplement manufacturers. This has its drawbacks, but generally speaking, the larger firms who have been in business for a while tend to lead in research of this field, and will usually precede conventional advice by a few years {9}. We found after a lot of research and some trial and error, that for our children, TMG (trimethylglycine) which is found naturally in red beet, is of particular benefit for controlling CNS symptoms and improving brain-function (Incidentally, in Japan, conventional doctors have recently begun prescribing antioxidants for treating CNS symptoms). It took about six weeks for the supplements to work, but after that improvement was seen by the day!
I strongly recommend visiting www.westonaprice.org for excellent information about good eating.
Some other ways to keep our general well-being in check include energy-improving treatments, such as magnet therapies {10}, various kinds of massage therapies, shiatsu (and acupressure) {11} and acupuncture {12}.
Specific symptoms
As mentioned above, it is very important to generally keep ourselves in good shape, but what to do when things go wrong? Can we really treat individual symptoms with alternative methods?
The answer is definitely yes. While different methods may work for different people, I would like to share some of the available options here.
Note Most of the herbs mentioned below are also known for their general anti-inflammatory properties.
Oral, genital and skin ulcers Eliminating certain foods from one’s diet almost always reduces the tendency for mouth ulceration. Sulfur-elimination diet, mentioned above, has reportedly been helpful in preventing and reducing ulceration tendencies. Mr. Chow’s Fu-Gui recipe, also mentioned above, has too been helpful in treating mouth ulcers.
Some herbs that are known for their anti-ulcer properties are German chamomile (liquid form, said to be particularly good for leg ulcers), licorice root (particularly used for treating gastrointestinal ulcers, gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcer), bilberry fruit, reishi mushrooms and green tea.
German chamomile and tea are also used as mouthwash for general oral hygiene. (Tea is indicated for many kinds of inflammation of the oral mucosa.)
Bilberry fruit and Sage are used by herbalists for treating inflammations of the oral mucosa. Bilberry fruit is also indicated for treating bleeding gums, while sage is used for treating gingivitis and dental abscess.
You can also try washing your oral ulcers with fresh aloe-vera juice or with tea tree oil preparations.
External mouth ulcers and skin ulcers, such as on the lips and around the mouth can be treated with aloe-vera gel or mud (I use dead-sea mud, but other medicinal additive-free mud packs may do as well). Do not apply mud to an open wound. Applying propolis directly to the ulcers can work for all types of oral and skin ulcers. Please do not use any of the above topical applications for genital ulcers.
Open skin lesions can be treated by applying honey directly onto them. Honey, a natural antibacterial and a bacteriostatic, was used for treating open wounds already in ancient Egypt. Please note that the above is true only for untreated honey, such as that bought directly from bee-farms and organic farms or healthfood shops; commercially manufactured honey, such as that most common at the supermarket, is heat treated, destroying all the beneficial enzymes as well as some of the vitamins in it.
Other skin irritations Topical application of aloe-vera gel normally relieves general skin irritations. Be careful, though, not to over-dry your skin.
For those that develop skin rashes after exposure to sun I suggest using very strong sun-blocks, such as those sold in skiing and surfing shops (SPF 100 and up). After over-exposure to sun it may be advisable to apply calamine lotion. Here, too, please be careful not to over-dry your skin.
Scarring can be largely treated by vitamin E, either applied locally or taken systemically. This is partly because vitamin E is an antioxidant. In the same way, drinking green-tea and/ or applying it directly to the skin, can be very beneficial. Try rubbing a used green-tea-bag on your hands and face. Wash it off and see that you can immediately tell the difference!
Oil from lavender flowers can be used topically to treat acne and sores. For acne-like lesions, many herbal cocktails are available {13}.
Bruising marks are sometimes relieved by blood-improving supplements (see below).
Other herbs often employed in treating skin diseases are German and Roman chamomile, liverwort and shiitake mushroom.
Eye symptoms Mr. Chow reports success treating uveitis with Chinese herbs (see above).
Many eye problems are in fact related to low consumption of true vitamin A (not to be confused with carotenoids) {20}. This can be corrected with healthy eating as well as supplementing with cod liver oil.
For generally irritated, blood-shot or aching eyes you may try applying tea-bags (either green or black) or chamomile-tea-bags directly over your eyelids when resting. This apparently works for conjunctivitis, too.
For swollen eyes, and when feeling strong pressure from the inside, cold gel-packs (such as sold for cosmetic purposes) may relieve symptoms.
Tea and gel packs have been successfully used in my family.
As a booster when my eyesight worsens, I take a combination of ginkgo biloba, bilberry fruit and eyebright. Each of the three is known to herbalists as extremely potent in fighting eye-diseases of many kinds.
Joint pain Not a criterion for Behcet’s disease, joint pain is present in most BD patients. It is debilitating and frustrating, but can usually be treated simply by exercising regularly. Start small, and make sure you choose a low or no impact sport. Swimming and other water-activity is usually the best. It may seem to worsen your condition at first, but if you stick with it you will discover that you are much stronger and in much less pain later. It is well worth the effort, and also contributes in many other ways to your wellbeing (see above).
My family can attest to that, too.
High levels of humidity tend to make our joints hurt more. When we lived in a marsh-land, my daughter used to suffer extreme joint-pain, which was relieved by turmeric supplements. It is apparently a well known supplement in Ayurvedic medicine {14}. Unfortunately, most Behcet’s patients cannot use turmeric, as it interacts adversely with steroids. I wrote in detail about my daughter’s experience in the #9 (Nov-Dec 2000) issue of the Behceteer, which can be found on www.behcets.org.
Tiger-balm, applied locally, is often useful as an immediate joint pain-relieving agent.
Lavender flowers and rosemary (topical) are also used to treat rheumatic pain.
Some reports claim that sultanas, also known as golden-raisins, left to soak in an open jar of gin (the alcohol evaporates) for a few days, also achieve the same goal. My son tried that and said it seemed to help a little, and if not it at least tasted nice.
Gastro-Intestinal/ digestive manifestations A fact often ignored is that what we put in our mouths reflects on all sides of our health. While a healthy diet and eating habits are difficult to maintain, they may well be worth the hassle, and even more so in the case of digestive problems. You will be surprised how much a raw-foods diet (see above) can change your life, making you more energetic and less in pain. Drinking plenty of water (not during mealtime, as it disturbs normal digestion) must be the most basic way of treating bowel problems- but it is where we must start.
Special diets are often employed to control gastrointestinal lesions and disturbances. What works best for me is a juice fasting diet {15}. This should never be done without physician’s supervision. The idea behind juice fasting is that it washes the GI system and indeed the whole body from toxins, while letting your colon and other parts of the digestive system rest. It is a difficult and very strict diet, but you only need do it for a while (5-10 days, depending on the situation), and other symptoms are certain to be relieved, too. It consists of basically drinking freshly squeezed juice only, made of vegetables and some “allowable” fruits.
In Japan, most hospitals recommend the elemental diet as the first therapeutic step in cases of GI complications, starting from cleansing the system{16}. It is done in hospital under doctors’ supervision.
Another, somewhat less drastic way, is drinking aloe-vera juice regularly for a week, following the instructions on the bottle. It is said to have a cleansing effect, and has helped me in less critical times.
For “maintenance”, there are various bacteria and enzymes now available over-the-counter and in foods. Many argue that if we ate only raw foods we would be fine, but this is very difficult to do, so taking these supplements may correct some of the imbalances created by our bad habits. Friendly bacteria is generally best taken between meals. The Lacto-Bacillus version of Acidophilus is not recommended, as it is possibly connected with Behcet’s disease in the first place {17}. Enzymes are to be taken shortly before mealtime, and are there to replace the ones we kill by cooking our foods, thereby unburdening our digestive system a little. Alternatively, you could consume properly prepared/ home-made lacto-fermented foods with every meal {21}.
Mr. Kevin Chow of H.K., China, recommends a warm drink of honey and sweet potato powder for treating diarrhoea, and a cold honey drink for treating constipation. The honey has to be untreated (see above). His Fu-Gui recipe is also said to help cases of GI involvement.
Other herbs often used for treating gastrointestinal disorders are bilberry fruit (for acute diarrhea), liverwort (indigestion and dyspepsia), rosemary and garlic. German and Roman chamomile, sage, lavender, licorice root, ginger and tea are each indicated for many different GI and digestive complications.
Acupuncture, shiatsu and some kinds of massage can be of great benefit to those suffering extreme stomachaches and dyspepsia. In particular, Ampuku (pressure applied directly to the abdomen) has helped me with some of my GI symptoms. It should normally be done by an experienced health practitioner, although it is easy to learn how to do it for yourself (see recommended reading below).
Lastly, if you follow the diary method described above, you will know what foods you are more sensitive to. Eliminate or reduce them from your diet and feel better. Please remember that while you suffer GI symptoms you are also malnourished by way of not absorbing enough nutrients from your food, so you may need to take nutritional supplements to compensate for this loss.
Blood vessels complications Regular exercise is generally recommended to promote better circulation and prevent blood-clots.
Vitamin B-12 is by now routinely offered even by conventional physicians for maintenance of BD patients’ blood. As mentioned above, we often suffer from poor absorption of nutrients from our foods, and we can also suffer loss of blood through ulceration. While iron and other B supplements can sometimes have undesirable effects on the user, B-12 has not been proved to cause any side-effects yet, even in high dosage over a long time {18}. However, it is sometimes recommended to interrupt the treatment occasionally for fear that the body’s ability to recycle available B-12 may become impaired.
For blood clots, garlic, turmeric, reishi mushrooms and German-chamomile can be useful due to their anti-thrombotic and anticoagulant properties. Garlic also dilates blood-vessels and is a blood purifier, while turmeric is also a blood-builder.
For varicose veins, bilberry, a vascular and capillary protectant and a circulatory stimulant, is said to be useful. It is also said to decrease vascular permeability, as well as reduce and reverse the damage caused by blood vessel deterioration. Gingko biloba is also used for treating varicose veins and poor circulation.
Various blood-vessel problems, including thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis are treated by herbalists with dong-quai.
TMG (see above)，a methyl group donor derived from beets, is used to treat blood-clots, embolism and thrombus, as well as other vascular disease. It is particularly recommended for heart-disease.
Finally, green tea is said to have various properties that can relieve congestion and hemoptysis.
Central-Nervous-System involvement Antioxidants are now considered promising in conventional treatment of CNS involvement in BD patients in Japan. We have a good experience with such therapy in our own family, in particular with TMG. Vitamin B-12 is also recommended for similar problems.
Some notable herbs with strong antioxidant properties known to be particularly beneficial for CNS symptoms are ginkgo biloba, sage, German and Roman chamomile, rosemary and tea. Gingko biloba, eyebright and sage are often used for improving memory, with Gingko biloba also used for improving concentration.
Vitamin B-12 is also indicated for its various beneficial effects on the CNS.
Neurotransmitters and some amino acids, such as Taurine, are known to be helpful against seizures, memory problems and other CNS-related complaints. Personally, I find the combination of Taurine and Inositol useful in keeping me awake and fully alert even when very tired..
Strange as it may seem, regular exercise help improve brain-functions.
Other nerves involvement Peripheral-nerves (that do not belong to the CNS) are also sometimes affected. Tingling, burning, itching, numbness, pins and needles, and so on are a daily occurrence for some patients. When they originate from nerve problems, it is often due to imbalances in electrolytes in the bloodstream (otherwise they are mostly attributable to poor circulation- see above), sometimes due to poor nutrition or absorption (see above). In those cases they are relatively easy to correct by supplementing our diet with extra minerals or electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, copper and zinc. As always, discuss the matter with your doctor before doing anything.
TMG is sometimes used as protectant from neurological complications, as are most neurotransmitters.
Most herbs mentioned above for treating CNS symptoms are also indicated for other nerve problems, and the same is true for vitamin B-12.
Migraine and severe headache There is nothing better than a dark room and total quiet for a migraine sufferer. However, this is not always possible, and even when it is, it often is not enough on its own. Please remember to drink plenty.
Tiger balm rubbed on the temples may relieve some of the pain, but keep it out of your eyes.
German chamomile, lavender flowers, sage, rosemary and green tea are often used by herbalists to treat headaches. Lavender flowers, rosemary and green tea can also be used against migraine.
I find shiatsu of particular benefit to me, but there are many reports of similar benefits obtained through acupuncture.
Aromatherapy is also known to relieve headaches and migraines.
Ear symptoms Gingko biloba is said to improve hearing. It is also said to be effective against tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo.
For dizziness- reishi mushrooms, licorice root and green tea are also said to be effective, while eyebright, licorice root and ginger are used in treating vertigo.
Garlic (normally taken orally in the form of capsules) is used in fighting ear infections.
Lungs complications Difficulties in breathing can be relieved by applying tiger-balm on the chest and back. Ginger and licorice root are used by herbalists to treat the same problem.
Tea is sometimes used to treat bronchial and lung disease. It also relieves congestion.
Garlic, eyebright, liverwort and licorice root are also notable for treating lung and respiratory complications.
Kidney complications Drink plenty of liquids, in particularly clean water, for good maintenance of the kidneys. They are the cleaning facility of our blood, and should probably get better treatment than they usually do. Drinking plenty of water also reduces your chance of UTIs and shortens healing time once you do have them.
Green tea, licorice root and reishi mushroom are natural detoxifiers and diuretics, thereby easing kidney function and promoting healing. Other diuretics include dong-quai, bilberry fruit, liverwort, sage and lavender flowers (usually used as teas)
Herbs often used to treat edema (dropsy) include ginger, licorice root, bilberry fruit and green tea.
Ginkgo biloba is used for treating general kidney disorders.
UTI’s and cystitis (bladder infection) are best kept at bay by drinking plenty of fluids and reducing sugar intake (in particular eliminating refined sugars from one's diet). UTI is most commonly treated with cranberry juice and sometimes with blueberry juice {19}. Buchu herb and Sage, as well as horseradish root are also said to be effective. Bromelain, popularly known as "pineapple enzyme", has also proved helpful in UTI treatments in medical trials. .
Liver problems The liver separates toxins from good nutrients, and in the process it is sometimes hurt by those toxins it stops. So again a good diet is key. In eastern medicine it is believed that many BD-like symptoms originate from a bad liver condition, whereas in conventional medicine it hardly gets any attention before the situation is life-threatening.
Dong-quai has many liver-protective properties and is commonly used to treat such ailments in Chinese medicine.
Shiitake and reishi mushrooms, as well as licorice root, turmeric, eyebright and bilberry are other strong liver-protective agents.
TMG is sometimes used to improve liver-function.
Fatigue and muscle pain Fatigue is a complaint common to all autoimmune and chronic diseases. There are many ways to fight fatigue naturally, including regular exercise, shiatsu, acupuncture, magnet treatment and aromatherapy. One method which you may find shocking is simply consuming more animal fat! {22}
Commonly indicated vitamins in the treatment of fatigue include Vitamin B-12, PABA (Para Aminobenzoic Acid) and Folic acid.
Herbalists use gingko biloba, garlic, shiitake and reishi mushrooms to treat chronic fatigue.
Gingko biloba is also used in treatment of depression, as are lavender and rosemary.
Muscle pain can be treated topically in the same way as joint pain. Acupuncture, shiatsu and various methods of message as well as aromatherapy may also be beneficial.
German and Roman chamomile, as well as rosemary and green tea are used by herbalists to control muscle spasms and pain.
Special female problems Female BD patients often demonstrate hormonal imbalances and menstrual problems, as well as cysts in the female reproductive areas.
Pomegranate is said to correct such hormonal imbalances by way of including similar compounds to missing hormones. Dong-quai is also supposed to help due to its many effects on the uterus and since it stimulates estrogen production. Other estrogenic herbs used include sage and licorice root. Still other herbs said to have good effects on the uterus are German and Roman chamomile, lavender flowers, rosemary and reishi mushroom.
Wild yam is often used as is or processed to mimic human progesterone, as most female troubles are actually due to estrogen imbalances resulting from too much estrogen rather than too little. Currently, the most popular way of taking these supplements is as Natural Progesterone cream (for external use).
Shiitake and reishi mushrooms, licorice root and tea are said to have anti-tumor properties.
Due to restrictions of space, I could only tell as much here.
Health to all,
Tal Kinnersly.
Suggested reading and bibliography
1 General information about alternative medicine
Online: www.medical-library.net many articles about diseases and treatments, as well as a “find a doctor” function and a Q&A forum.
www.nutritionfocus.com Comprehensive information about vitamins, minerals, herbs and other supplements, as well as links to other useful sites.
www.lef.org/
Life Extension Foundation, a site packed with up to date information about natural medicine.
www.essortment.com/in/Health.Alternative/index.htm
Various articles from different aspects of alternative medicine.
http://health.yahoo.com/health/alternative medicine
A guide to various branches of alternative medicine.
Offline: The Thinking Person's Guide to Perfect Health
By Ron Kennedy, MD, 1996.
Progressive medical therapies and control of aging through correction of hormone imbalance from Dr. Ron Kennedy, creator of the medical-library.net
Healthy Healing - A Guide To Self Healing For Everyone - Eleventh Edition
by Linda Rector Page, Linda Garland Page, Linda G. Rector-Page
Paperback, 11th Rev edition (March 1, 2000), Healthy Healing Publications
Healthy Healing makes good reading whether you plan to try it or not.
2 Nutritional therapy
Online: www.rawfoods.com/
A useful site dedicated to educating the world about the power of raw foods.
Offline: Introduction To The Living Foods Lifestyle A Guide To Wellness & Longevity Through Food Choices & Lifestyle Changes By Richard Salome & Denise Swann
Copyright 1992 by Richard Salome & Denise Swann
Revised and Reprinted June 1996
All you need to know about raw foods in one book.
Detoxification - All you need to know to recharge, renew and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit!
by Linda R. Page, N.D., Ph.D. Linda Page
Paperback (January 15, 1999), Healthy Healing Publications
In this book Dr. Linda Page brings together the comprehensive information needed to create safe and effective individualised detoxification programmes. A good resource for anyone seeking to improve their health by this method.
Food : Your Miracle Medicine : How Food Can Prevent and Cure over 100 Symptoms and Problems
by Jean Carper
Paperback (June 1998), Harper Mass Market Paperbacks
Miracle Cures reveals how you can use the extraordinary powers of food to prevent and alleviate common health problems from colds to cancer.
3 Herbal medicineOnline: www.healthwell.com
A wealth of information, searchable by herb or disorder
www.seedman.com/Rachel/herbform.htm
Create your own Herbal Teas and Capsules using provided guidelines
www.kcweb.com
A useful herbal information centre
http://www.1001herbs.com/symptoms.html
An excellent guide in easy to use format.
Offline: General:
All About Herbs (Frequently Asked Questions) by Hyla Cass
The Complete Book of Herbs by Lesley Bremness
Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs by Claire Kowalchik (Editor), William H. Hylton (Editor)
Herbs and Herbal Medicine by William H. Lee
Technical:
The Complete German Commission E Monographs : Therapeutic Guide to American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook by Michael McGuffin, Christopher Hobbs (Editor), Roy Upton (Editor)
The American Association of Oriental Medicine's Complete Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicine : How to Treat Illness and Maintain Wellness With Chinese Herbs by David Molony and Ming Pan Molony
Herbal Medicines by Mark Blumenthal, S. Klein, Werner R. Busse,
Chance Riggins, Robert Rister
Others:
The Green Tea Book: China's Fountain of Youth
By Lester A. Mitscher, Victoria Dolby, Eric Kraft (Editor)
Avery Publishing Group, Inc., November 1997
The book focuses on the benefits of green tea such as its anti-aging and healing properties while also covering scientific research, history and a lot more.
4 Magnetic therapyOnline: www.coloradohealthnet.org/holistic/herbal_biomagnets2.html/
Comprehensive information about biomagnetism.
www.magnetic-therapy-specialists.com/natural_healing.htm
Technical information regarding magnetism and magnetic therapies.
www.magnettherapy.com/Magnet_Therapy.html
Introducing a variety of available magnetic products.
www.magnetsforyourhealth.com/
A very good FAQ section, and other useful information.
Offline: Magnet Therapy : Balancing Your Body's Energy Flow for Self-Healing
by Holger Hannemann, Paperback (November 1990),Sterling Publications
Informative, clear, and simple. Illustrations are easy to follow. Easy to understand and use.
Magnet Therapy Illustrated: Natural Healing and Pain Relief Using Magnets
by Peter Rose, Paperback (May 10, 2001), Ulysses Press.
This book combines lucid text with clear, helpful illustrations. A mix of need-to-know facts with how-to techniques in a straightforward language.
Online: www.shiatsu.8m.com/what.htm
A very good source of information about shiatsu, its history and philosophy, also offering a “find a practitioner” option.
http://www.shiatsu.org
The UK Shiatsu society runs this site, with a good FAQ file and training programmes at schools across the UK.
Offline: Do-It-Yourself Shiatsu: How to Perform the Ancient Japanese Art of Acupuncture Without Needles
by Wataru Ohashi, Vicki Lindner (Editor)
Paperback new edition (March 1992), Penguin USA
This book clarifies the placement, use, and properties of meridian lines and pressure points. It is also very easy to read and follow, yet very thorough in its coverage of detail. My personal favourite guide to shiatsu.
The Self-Shiatsu Handbook
By Pamela Ferguson, Berkley Publishing Group, July 1995
Written by a well-known, highly respected shiatsu instructor, this complete and accessible guide teaches readers how to use simple finger pressure techniques to relieve physical symptoms and discomforts.
6 Shiatsu
Online: www.acupuncture.com
A good place to start learning about acupuncture.
Offline: Acupuncture : Energy Balancing for Body, Mind and Spirit ('Health Essentials' Series) by Peter Mole
Comprehensive information about this old Chinese therapy.
Basics of Acupuncture
by Gabriel Stux, Bruce Pomeranz
Explains the basics in easy to understand style.
7 Aromatherapy
Online: www.aromatherapy.com/about.html
An in-depth introduction to the various aspects and philosophy of aromatherapy including scientific facts.
Offline: The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: A Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatics in Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health and Well-Being
By Julia Lawless, Element Books, April 1992
A definitive reference guide, providing extensive and systematic survey of all the most commonly available aromatherapy oils, indispensable to aromatherapists in their healing work, and to anyone interested in the use and potential of essential oils.
The Practice of Aromatherapy : A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines and Their Healing Properties
by Jean Valnet, Robert Tisserand (Editor)
Paperback (December 1990), Inner Traditions Intl Ltd.
Written in 1980 and translated into English in 1982. Valnet (an M.D.) is one of the foremost experts in Aromatherapy. Recommended for expanding existing knowledge of this practice.
8 Ayurvedic Medicine
Online: www.ayurveda.com- the ayurvedic institute
The place to begin your exploration into this Indian therapy. Provides comprehensive information and research data.
www.pharm.uu.nl/home/smit/main_nl.htm
Introduction to Ayurveda.
http://niam.com/corp-web/index.htm
The National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine (NIAM) is recognized as the largest and most authentic resource of information on Ayurveda in the United States.
www.pharm.uu.nl/home/smit/hari/
The Himalayan Ayurveda Research Institute (HAR Institute) aims to realize the potential of Ayurveda and to promote it in the national and international context.
http://ece.iisc.ernet.in/ernet-members/frlht.html - The Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore, India is spearheading a movement to conserve medicinal plants in South India.
Offline: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing.
By Lad, Usha and Dr. Vasant. 2nd ed., The Ayurvedic Press: Albuquerque, 1997.
As the name suggests, the book offers a chance to eat your medicine and enjoy it.
Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity.
By Svoboda, Robert E. Penguin: London, 1992.
Ayurveda as a key to a longer and better life.
The Book of Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Health and Longevity.
By Morrison, Judith H. New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 1995, A Fireside Book.
Another important work about Ayurvedic medicine.
9 Holistic medicine
Online: http://ahha.org
American Holistic Health Association site for information about the holistic way of life, including “find a practitioner” function and a long list of recommended reading.
www.holistic.com
Online information including specific articles and monthly features, as well as a “find a practitioner” function.
Offline: Matrix & Matrix Regulation : Basis for a Holistic Theory in Medicine
by Alfred Pischinger
Hardcover (June 1991), Medicina Biologica
English translation of the original German text. The book’s holistic philosophy stays in synch with much of German medical thought.
10 Naturopathy
Online: http://www.baitennour.com/Aboutus.htm
Baitennour offers information and support online, as well as treatment on site.
http://www.pandamedicine.com/
Offers extensive information about naturopathy, with a “find a doctor” option.
Offline: Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised 2nd Edition
by Michael T. Murray, Joseph E. Pizzorno
Paperback, 2nd Rev edition (December 29, 1997), Prima Publishing
Very informative and useful. The authors are naturopathic doctors - they focus on promoting health and treating disease with nontoxic, natural therapies.
11 exercise
Online: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/ataglan.htm
Physical Activity and Health at a Glance covers everything from the benefits of exercising through how to start, and on to some interesting statistics.
Offline: Quantum-Touch : The Power to Heal
by Richard Gordon, Eleanor Barrow (Illustrator), C. Norman Shealy
Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours.
Paperback (September 1999),North Atlantic Books
The book is written in easy to understand language that demystifies healing energy work. It contains wonderful and simple techniques, as well as invaluable information for general health and well-being
12 Others
www.nutrimed.com/HOMO.HTM (TMG)
www.simplecom.net/timeless/homo.htm (TMG)
www.kcweb.com/herb/Ginko.htm (GINGKO)
www.about.com (miscellaneous)
…and all sources mentioned in the notes.
Notes and references
1 www.medical-library.net (water)by Ron Kennedy, MD, January 15, 1999. {back to article}
2 http://depression.about.com/health/depression/library/weekly/aa122198.htm?rnk=r5&terms=%2B%2Bdepression+%2Blight+Updated: 11/21/00
Kripke DF. Light treatment for nonseasonal depression: speed, efficacy, and combined treatment. Journal of Affective Disorders. 1998;49:109-117. {back to article}
3 http://www.arthritis.ca/programs%20and%20resources/news%20magazine/1989/climate/default.aspBased on an experiment involving arthritis patients in a weather controlled chamber.
Prof. Emeritus Joseph Lee Hollander, University of Pennsylvania, 1960. {back to article}
5 The First Convention for Patients with Silk-Road Disease (Behcet’s Disease), Session 2. (May 2000)http://www.behcet.org.il/chowsrecipe.htm
Reported by Tal Kinnersly {back to article}
6 www.medical-library.net (enzyme therapy)by Ron Kennedy, MD, January 15, 1999. {back to article}
7 http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/mm.htm National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionPhysical activity and health- a report of the surgeon general
The Link Between Physical Activity and Morbidity and Mortality - 17 Nov 1999. {back to article}
8 Vitamin A is best taken in combination with carotenoids, while vitamin E is best taken in its “natural” form.www.nutritionfocus.com (library articles)
Breakthrough Study Shows Natural Vitamin E Supplement of Choice, Especially for Pregnant Women May 27, 1998
Carotenoids: More Than Just Beta-Carotene: An interview with Dr. James Clark and Lance Schlipalius by Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D. {back to article}
9 http://www.solgar.com/solgar/philosophy.htmlOUR OWN RESEARCH: A REWARDING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL
Specific examples from a leading vitamin manufacturer are mentioned here. {back to article}
10 www.medical-library.net (magnetic field therapy; energy medicine)by Ron Kennedy, MD, January 15, 1999. {back to article}
11 http://www.shiatsu.8m.com/ Mike Flanagan’s Shiatsu pages21 Jan 2000 {back to article}
12 http://www.cinnabarswan.com/acupunc.htm Isabeau Vollhardt, L.Ac {back to article} 13 Acne, Blemish Remover FormulaDried Herbs:
2 parts Red Clover
2 parts Dandelion Root
1 part Echinacea root
1 part Alfalfa leaf
1/2 part Capsicum
Source - Create your own Herbal Teas and Capsules
http://www.seedman.com/Rachel/herbform.htm {back to article}
14 The Ayurvedic Institute http://www.ayurveda.com/particularly http://www.ayurveda.com/materiamedica/Curcuma%20longa-Haridra-Turmeric.htm {back to article}
15 www.medical-library.net (juice fasting therapy)by Ron Kennedy, MD, January 15, 1999. {back to article}
16 T. Matsuda, MD and H. Oka, MDA visit at St. Marianna’s hospital, November 2000
Reported by Tal Kinnersly {back to article}
17 T. Matsuda, C. Tanaka and Y. ImamuraBehcet Disease (3) (available only in Japanese)
Medical Postgraduates Vol.37 No.5, 1999 {back to article}
18 www.nutritionfocus.com (vitamin12)
A study of high doses of 1 mg/day (500 times the RDA) for 5 years has shown no adverse effects. {back to article}
19 http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Concern/UTI.cfm
Quoting research and historical knowledge of treating UTIs. {Back to article}
20 http://www.westonaprice.org (all sections about vitamin A)
Primitive tribes used to take at least 10 times the current vitamin A consumption.
Dr. price treated the visually impaired with cod liver oil. {Back to article}
21 http://www.westonaprice.org and www.powerhealth.net
Properly prepared lactofermented foods can take care of one's friendly bacteria and enzyme requirements cheaply and effectively.
22 http://www.westonaprice.org, www.powerhealth.net, www.mercola.com
Animal fat, not always fattening, is essential to good health and energy.
Everything that conventional and some alternative medicine won't tell you but you should know. {Back to artice}