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June
17
Combining Western Medicine and Raw Foods
Filed under More Than Raw Foods by Frederic Patenaude
23
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There’s a story I never told, about something very strange that happened to me back in 1999.
I was in a suburb of San Diego, riding my bicycle late at night after going to a yoga class. At the time, I was a strict raw foodist and I was trying to get in better shape by doing Ashtanga Yoga.
I was in the city of Del Mar, going downhill on my bike to get back home. I was going pretty fast downhill, and suddenly I hit a very dark car that was parked slightly off the side of the road.
In one instant, I found myself on the other side of the car completely, with blood everywhere. At that moment I thought I was going to die, and my first thought was “I never thought it was going to happen this way.”
Then I realized that the “blood” I saw was actually a bottle of fresh grapefruit juice from Trader Joe’s that exploded upon impact.
My legs were hurting, but I could walk. Fortunately I was only slightly bruised, but the bike was completely wrecked — bent in half.
My first thought was: I need to get back home!
My first thought was not: I need to go to a hospital.
Why? Because at the time I had read so much natural hygiene information, and being young and impressionable, I was convinced that as a raw foodist, ending up in the hospital was the worst thing that could ever happen to me.
They would probably shoot me up with drugs and because I was so “sensitive” to drugs on my pure diet, I could end up in a coma and die. At least, that’s what I thought from what my raw food friends had told me.
I didn’t think my injuries were too bad, because I could still walk, although with difficulty. I didn’t realize that my body had produced so much adrenaline that I actually didn’t feel my legs.
Now your question might be… how did I manage to ride my bike into a car?
That’s another story that relates to my disdain of modern medicine and science. Being a raw foodist, I didn’t think my wearing glasses fit with the lifestyle.
I had been shortsighted ever since the age of 12, and had worn glasses ever since (I was in my early twenties at the time of the story).
Raw foods or fasting did nothing to cure my myopia. So I read books on how to use natural methods and they all came to the same conclusion. Don’t use glasses and let your eyes heal themselves! According to these books, glasses made vision worse. Dr. Shelton even recommended to “get rid of your glasses” or “break them.” I am not kidding!
For over a while, I only used my glasses when absolutely necessary. Then one day I broke them (accidentally), and saw that as a sign to get rid of them completely.
For the most part, things went smoothly and I adjusted well, without actually improving my vision significantly.
During the daytime, I had no problem riding my bike, but as you may know, vision drops at night and in that micro-second, I did not see the car in front of me because it was black and it was late at night, the street was poorly lit, and I was freakin’ short-sighted wearing no glasses!
I needed to get back home, but this was in the “pre-iPhone” days, when you actually needed to talk to human beings to get things done.
I started knocking on people’s doors, trying to explain that I just had an accident. I wanted to find the owner of the car to explain the situation, but also get back home.
To my surprise, everybody who answered the door seemed afraid of me. They perhaps suspected some kind of scam, after all, who would pretend to have been in an accident when they smelled like grapefruit juice and still could walk?
People would say: “just hold on, I’ll call you a taxi.” Then they closed the door on me. I waited and waited, but when I rang their bell again, they did not answer.
Finally I was fed up and because I couldn’t find the owner of the car, I left a note on the windshield explaining the situation and leaving my home number.
I decided to walk to the nearest phone booth and call myself a taxi. The problem is… I don’t know if you’ve been in some American cities, but they are not exactly designed to be pedestrian-friendly.
I walked for blocks and blocks on my injured leg, but could not find a phone booth or even a gas station. Finally I arrived at a community center that seemed opened, and found someone inside, a man who listened to my story.
After a long discussion, he decided to take me back home in his own car.
The next day, I woke up and found that my left knee now looked like a big balloon, filled with water!
Although I was tempted to get it checked, my irrational fear of doctors kept me from doing anything.
Now you might think… that’s stupid! And you’re right. But keep in mind the context. I was literally convinced that going to the doctor was the absolute last resort! If I could avoid it, I would.
Over the next weeks, I decided to fast on my own, but the water in my knee still did not go away. Some natural health people I saw told me I “needed” to get that water out, but I thought that was a bad idea. If my body had produced that fluid, that was probably to protect my knee, I guessed.
In the end, it took about two months for my knee to look normal again. But that’s not the end of the story.
For years after that, I could not run for more than 10 or 15 minutes without feeling pain in my knee. Over the years, my knee got better and better on its own, and now I can run without any pain.
But, I often feel discomfort in my left leg, especially at night or when there’s a change of pressure in the weather, for example during damp, cold weather.
The bottom line is that I was so afraid of doctors that this irrational fear prevented me from taking action, even if it was just a simple evaluation.
Let me tell you that my attitude has changed a lot over the years.
Although you may think my story is funny, don’t laugh too quickly because it could have been a lot worse. I actually know people who died because they were careless and thought they knew more than doctors.
Can We Combine Western Medicine With Raw Foods?
The reason why so many raw foodists are afraid of doctors is this concept of “sensitivity.”
Even Fred Bisci, who’s been a raw foodist for many years, warned people against drugs that are commonly given to “normal people,” claiming that if raw foodists were to receive such doses, they could die.
Although part of that is true, it’s not a concept that can be blindly applied.
When a person has weakened their body through fasting, for example, then yes, this is absolutely true… a visit to the hospital can be fatal because 99% of doctors don’t have experience with people on long water fasts or understand why people choose to do this for health reasons.
They will treat you as a regular patient, and whatever drugs they give you can actually kill you if your body is in a weakened state.
According to Dr. X, the amazing doctor I’m interviewing this month for a new program to be released shortly, probably under the name of the “Beyond Raw Health Program,” a very small percentage of people who undergo surgery… never wake up from the anesthesia that is given to induce sleep. And nobody knows why. Fortunately, if you’ve ever been put under before, then you are not in that category of unlucky people and should not be concerned.
There are also a few more things to be aware of, for example that eating a lot of greens can bring an excess of Vitamin K that are perfectly healthy, but that can interfere with certain drugs and become dangerous to your health. For more information, read my book Raw Food Controversies (http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/rawfoodcontroversies)
Beyond this concept of “sensitivity,” which I actually addressed in my new book, coming to the conclusion that one should not attempt to become “too pure,” I think a big reason raw foodists are afraid of doctors and avoid them completely is because they think that doctors don’t know a thing about health.
This brings me to an important point.
“People attribute certain powers to doctors that they don’t have.”
A lot of people complain that doctors are only trained to act when something goes wrong and are not trained about things like nutrition and prevention.
That’s absolutely true for the most part!
But the reality is that you don’t go to your doctor for nutrition advice. Most of them don’t know a thing about it and couldn’t care less. That’s not what they went to school for!
You go to your doctor:
1) To evaluate your state of health using unbiased data such as blood tests, physical exams, etc.
2) To save your life when your situation is beyond the possibility of “preventable”
3) To “fix you up” either through surgery, setting, bandaging, stitches or other interventions.
This is what you should use doctors for. But many people don’t realize that doctors are experts in what they need to be experts in, and knowing about alternative therapies and raw food nutrition is alien to them for good reason.
How secure would you feel if you got in an accident and were rushed to the hospital and needed surgery, but your surgeon was more concerned with natural therapies and wanted to see if your open wounds would heal with some herb compacts instead of assessing your problems and seeing if you needed bone resetting or stitches?
This is kind of ridiculous, but of course you wouldn’t want this. When you need to see a specialist, you want them to BE an EXPERT in their field. That’s their job. So don’t get angry at them for things that are not their expertise that they do not know about. They are trained to treat people based on fact and science without bias for their gender, sexual orientation or lifestyle choices. They will not treat you based on pseudo-science, opinion, or wishy washy beliefs and ideology, and this is a GOOD THING.
So back to drugs.
Are all drugs absolutely bad?
The basic concept of raw foodism and natural hygiene is absolutely correct.
“Health through healthful living.”
You can’t lead an unhealthy life and expect health.
However, sometimes things are beyond our control.
- You could get into an accident
- You could have a genetic weakness
- You may not be able to live a healthful life 100% of the time due to outside factors
Although I agree that modern medicine is very flawed with prescribing lots of drugs to treat symptoms only and that most drugs are absolutely unnecessary most of the time, it would be foolish to deny some of the progress that have been done by modern medicine and go back to pre-industrial days!
In some cases, certain drugs can save your life, like antibiotics if you got a serious infection, although most of the time they are not necessary.
In many cases, surgery can save your life, and nobody can actually deny that, not even the most extreme natural health nut.
In order to achieve the best health possible, it’s important to find out where natural health, raw foods and other therapies can also complement some use of modern medicine.
Now most doctors have actually no clue about natural health or nutrition, and unfortunately most raw foodist have no clue how they should be using modern medicine, and what they should and shouldn’t expect from doctors.
I know you have important questions about your health, and I know that you’re not satisfied with the answer you are getting from both doctors and raw foodists.
Now it’s time to combine the best of each approach in a true “holistic” way.
This is why I’m putting together a new course called “The Beyond Raw Health Program — Natural Solutions for Your Unique Body” which is an interview series with an amazing expert that currently goes by the name of Dr. X (to protect her privacy and because of her medical studies, she can’t be associated with alternative health methods).
As part of this course, I’ll be organizing a completely free webinar where you’ll be able to ask Dr. X your own questions about health.
If you’re not satisfied with the “One Size Fits All” solution, then you’ll want to listen to this webinar! To sign up for free, just go to:
http://MyOptInPage2.com/?pid=6421102
By the way, what do you think of the name “The Beyond Raw Health Program”…? Still working on it, and would welcome your suggestions! Please post comments below.
23 Responses to “Combining Western Medicine and Raw Foods”
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Amber says:
I fell and fractured my spine nearly ten years ago. At that point I had taken an ibuprofen a year prior and nearly hallucinated, so when they came at me with a needle full of morphine I freaked. Fortunately for me, my good friend was there and pointed out that I needed rest and this may allow me to heal more easily. Also, the nurse was very nice and (after laughing at my belief I would immediately become addicted) gave me a low dose in the IV. I did not enjoy it, but it did help me to sleep and I recovered far more quickly than they said I would.
I am not an advocate of numbing our pain. We do it far too often, even daily. However, in certain circumstances, when someone may be eating well, but does not understand how to use meditation and the body in a congruent manner, certain western understandings may be of benefit to the healing process. As for other drugs, I am wary, but perhaps a guideline might be developed for informing our physicians in the event of a trauma. I thought about wearing one of those i.d. bracelets once or twice! Not sure what on earth to put on it though.
I applaud this article, Fred! I have seen enough to know there is a time and a place for each thing and you worded it in just the way I needed to hear it to assist me with clearing up the little bit of garbage I had in the way of allowing those who have worked hard to learn how to help in other ways, to continue to do so without my interference or (gasp!) slander. Yes. I have spoken ill of the ‘medical model’, but even KNOWING they do not learn nutrition didn’t keep me from holding it against them. I knew there was some way to put it into a more harmonious perspective and you have done exactly that.
Thank you for all your diligence!Oh, and I like, “Beyond Raw Health”! It keeps in line with your current program, while presenting the improvements/updates. It makes sense to me and I like that.
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Frederic! Love it. This is a great article, very sensible. Thanks for putting this information out there. It’s so needed in a world of ABSOLUTE EXTREMES, especially in diet.
The program sounds great, hoping to buy it. I think the name is okay but how about “Health Beyond the Raw”?
Hope to talk soon,
Brian Grecohttp://brianonhealth.com
http://thefruitandvegetablecuisine.com -
This was really helpful. Thankyou.
Book: I would turn the title around: Raw Health and Beyond…
Have a great weekend.
Nanette -
Michael says:
Hi Fred!
Very needed article, very cool!!!
Thank you very much for that!…it is time to speak about certain things.
Michael
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Chana Rachel Mark says:
Interesting, but I avoid doctors at all costs, and probably should get baseline
blood work done. Aside from that, after reading your latest book, I decided to get to the dentist (and I really detest going–since my childhood memories in the ’50s)–
However, I do need a lot of dental work, and it took a bit of courage for me to make the first phone call. My biggest problem after about 4 weeks into my dental work is that I would venture to guess that the drugs they give to numb the mouth must bring down my immune system — I’m wondering if you could comment about this, as I’ve been raw for about 7 years, but more into natural hygiene in the last 2. (not 100% though) -
Frederic Patenaude says:
I recommend always getting teeth repaired. The novocaine is nothing to worry about and far less severe than the consequences of tooth decay for your immune system
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I always feel strange after novocaine (itchy, high, tired, itchy, I hate the numb feeling too) & this was pre-raw-vegan, when I was just vegan & when I ate meat. I think it all depends on ‘who’ you are as a person & how your body filters out chemicals. IMHO, all drugs are chemicals, unless nature produced. Man-made stuff will only enter my body from now on out, IF needed. Yeah, I should get a bracelet–sounds like a great idea. I have wondered since reading about the blood type diet & maybe it’s a quack idea–but the idea that my blood type is a little different than others’ makes sense to me in that my body handles things differently than others, perhaps it’s not even blood type that defines it. I know my kidney’s & excreting body parts, liver etc.. work slower than others’, say my husband who in 20 minutes or less filters out alcohol, while I’m still loopy for another 30++ after him. I’ve wondered what raw folks use for toothpaste–I’m looking into alternatives in that as well, since Tom’s of Maine is full of garbage now.
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Fran says:
Thank you very much for this article! I find it presents a refreshingly different attitude to the one usually encountered in raw food circles. I have often (more or less overtly) been criticised by fellow raw foodists for taking conventional medication such an anti-psychotics for my schizo-affective disorder (a type of schizophrenia). I certainly wish I could do without these drugs, but the truth is that without them I couldn’t function in any meaningful way. I tried to get off them several times since becoming a raw foodist in 2005, but each of these attempts resulting in a breakdown from which it has taken me months to recover. That is not to say that I haven’t benefited from the raw diet. It has helped me to better manage side effects, such as weight gain and mental confusion and I believe I’m definitely healthier for it. I only wish my doctors were a little more open minded about the raw food diet, although I guess I shouldn’t hold it against them, since, as you say, it is not their job to know.
In conclusion, I really look forward to your new program both from a professional (I’m a pharmaceutical scientist by training) and a personal point of view. It is time that such issues are addressed in a sensible manner. -
Wallace Gordon Dickson says:
Frederic,
Thanks for your rational thoughts on how to accommodate the traditional medical practitioner when you are a raw foodist. I am get my primary medical care at the local VA Medical Center here in Washington, DC. When I get advice from one of their doctors that seems contrary to my raw food regimen (vegetarian for 20 years, 80% raw foodist for past 2 years), or a prescription for a medication that is contrary to my raw food philosophy, I just explain to them that I am unwilling to follow that advice or take that medication. Sometimes when the medication seems necessary I can negotiate with the doctor for a minimal doseage, or adjust the doseage on my own by cutting pills in half, etc. When my cardiologist advised against supplementing with Vitamin D3, I just ignored him and continued my supplement regimen as I wanted. When I told them I was discontinuing the Statin prescribed for coronary artery disease and instead proceeding with a nutritional plan to reverse heart disease, they understood and went along with my plan, although they would not monitor it or take any part in it (their “protocol” would not permit it, they explained).
So I am constantly at odds with their advise – I refuse pain pills and statins for example – but rely on them for blood testing, eye and ear exams, and other physical issues that arise from time to time – as they will with any 80-year-old man. The rest is between me and my body. Other than for this disconnect described above, the traditional doctors treat my injuries and other imperfections very well. I just remain in full control of choice of treatments, etc. They accept that condition without argument most of the time.
Thanks for sharing your experience and comments. I think your advice is right on the button. And as for naming your new book, I like the suggestion of “Raw Health & Beyond.”
Thanks for being there, coach! -
frances says:
Good points. Interesting blog!
Isn’t it interesting how, through some of our difficulties, we learn to take excellent care of ourselves?
I just wanted to say that some of us are also more sensitive to the paradigm shift that occurs when we walk into a conventional medicine setting. Yes, of course, there is a time and a place for medical assistance, and we’re wise to use it when helpful or necessary. However, important to fully consider the necessary precautions. On this note, sharing a video link that also landed in my inbox this morning: http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=44763E4283B51A1C0BA52851F4A72249
Keep up the good work, Fred! Common sense is sadly lacking these days.
You’re a good role model!
Frances -
mimi says:
I went to the doctor for a biopsy on a (what turned out to be) calcium deposit. I was raw at the time for 4 months and the painkiller they gave me almost put me out completely. I couldn’t sit up straight in the chair. I asked them to turn up the air conditioning in the office so that I would stay awake-everyone else was freezing, but it was finally over and I left. I headed straight to Starbuck’s so that I could get some caffeine to wake up enough to get myself home. It took 72 hours for the effects of the medication to wear off. I am not sure I could do it any differently, but your point about being extremely sensitive to the medication is correct-I am not sure what the solution is. Would you get surgery without painkillers? Maybe that is the answer.
Best regards.
Mimi -
Barbara says:
Sensibile article, thank you.
As for the title of the conference, “beyond” sounds like you dismiss raw food completely, it sounds very dismissive.
I’d prefer something that focussed on the practicality of being raw in a world which isn’t perfect.
Bye -
Great article. I’ve struggled with whether to see an M.D. over the years for various ailments after a couple of decades of being over-antibioticized (?) and appreciate your good sense in this article.
I’m thinking about you today, your first Father’s Day since your Dad passed away recently. God bless you with great memories today.
~Cynthia
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Great story!
When I was following Natural Hygiene, I felt the same way about doctors AND dentists. I would not go. I would fast or juice if I was in an enervated state. Over the years I started to stray from raw foods, I was still mostly vegan, but I was eating a lot of unhealthy foods. I still had the same view of doctors.
I started to get really sick. I had no energy, couldn’t walk up an incline without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack. My muscles and joints were sore. I went to chiros, acupuncturists, a whole array of bodyworkers. I finally gave in and saw a doctor, who told me I was lazy and I needed to exercise more. HA! How could I exercise more if I couldn’t move my muscles or breathe? I spent 2 years like that.
Finally I went back to the doctor for an over 50 yr check up. She did a routine blood test and I found out I was so anemic that I was seconds away from having a stroke. It was so critical that I had to start on iron supplements and meat immediately. I had a hard time with the meat, but did it anyway. Within one month I was able to start running again. .
After 4 months, I gave up meat and became vegan again, focusing on 80-90% raw in my diet. I am doing really great now
What did I learn? BALANCE!! Its okay to get blood tests and check things out. It’s okay for my body to eat some grain and some steamed veggies from time to time. I have to feel out what is right for my body. And not become a slave to my beliefs. Being a slave almost killed me.
Exercise wisdom and balance in all areas.
Thanks for your wonderful story, Frederic. I have found you to be one of the most balanced, wisest, raw person out there. Keep up the great work!! -
Cecilia says:
I Like Nanette’s suggestion: Raw Health and Beyond
To Chana Rachel I would say: try using meditation and relaxation if the dental work being done will not take long. Pain is uncomfortable, but not harmful if you can control tension. If it is a more extended session, then ask for cardiac novacaine… this is a very much milder dose that leaves the body fairly quickly. I am chemically sensitive (pesticide exposure) and have used these methods in lieu of routine anesthetics very successfully – though even the cardiac novacaine causes me some reactions. I have to disagree with you, Fred, that novacaine is nothing to worry about. For the very sensitive, or those weakened (e.g. by serious dental infections), it can be a serious threat. And contrary to what the dentists believe, it takes about three days to discharge, so be sure your Vitamin C intake is high when having dental work done.
Lastly: Fred, thank you for this article and your upcoming interview – interface with AMA physicians is valuable, as you say, but always problematic for those who are really seeking to take control over their own health. Being aware of the limitations of their way of looking at facts and science (I don’t consider raw foodists as NOT being factual or scientific!!), it essential. Thanks for doing this.
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Nomi says:
Hi! Great article Fred and great balance I am finding that you and I agree on much more than I’d realized. As for novacaine…it is the Epinephrine in novacaine that sets me off; you can ask for non epi novacaine. All dentists have it. The difference is it wears off much faster and you often need more.
The last time I had epinephrine in my novacaine was done in error by a holistic dentist I was going to while I was working at Hippocrates HI in Florida, as the first bit was going it..I FELT IT. MY HEART POUNDS i shake internally and it can last for weeks.It feels like a major anxiety attack. He gave me an entire bottle of rescue remedy which helped a lot but…i was furious as it was written all over my chart. I never forget to mention it now and have never been to a dentise that doesn’t have non-epinephrine novacaine.
And for the pharmacist with szichophrenia i am one raw fooder who would never ever think you should stop your meds; that is an attitude based on ignorance!
If you don’t like your Dr. (even your Dr. in the VA) keep trying I have found two wonderful, sympathetic and respectful to my beliefs Drs. in the Kaiser system. As raw fooders who believe in natural treatment we need to catch anything serious early and we need excellent diagnostics to know how our alternative treatments are going. To ignore the benefits of good diagnostics is sort of like cutting off our nose to spite our face.
Thanks for your Great work Frederic…
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yamina says:
Very funny not wearing glasses expecting the body will self improve the deficiency ! (Isn’t there a little bit of coquetterie too ?!) I experienced an injury during an aikido class. My knee was very painful and like a balloon too. I committed the error to accept an injection and now and ever I will feel a weakness in this part of my leg. I know that this injection has damaged the tissues. On the contrary, several months ago, in a hurry, I missed a stair and twisted my ankle. I heard a sound like a broken bone. Pain and balloonlike were the results, but this time nothing else than rest and courage. Now my ankle is as if nothing happened ! I am convinced that the body is the only healer if its power of healing is not too damaged (in this case medecine may help).
I am afraid too that being too pure may be fatal in a world where everything is far from the original state of paradise ! If you haven’t a paper in your pocket forbidding all excessive medication or not based plant nutrients, and in case of non communication ability, you may die not for what has conducted you in the hospital but for the medication supposed to cure it.
Concerning the doctors, knowing some of those strange characters, I assure that many of them, along with time, have acquired the ability to diagnosis rightfully at a glance. The best are really human experts ! Concerning the title of your work, it would be presomptuous of me to give my opinion, not being english, but for me Health beyond the Raw means that there is an healthy way of eating other than raw, and Raw Health and beyond that there is a raw health and something not raw but related to, and the Beyond Raw Health Program means that there is one program of health : raw, and beyond this program some mysterious factors, unponderable…
Regards. -
Doris Dejwakh says:
Thanks for your comments, Fred! I agree that natural foodists have an uncertain relationship with the medical profession, and for good reason. But there are other alternatives. I recently went to the hospital here in China and asked for accupuncture treatments; here, Chinese medicine and Western medicine go hand in hand. The accupuncture ward was on the 6th floor of the regular hospital. In the States you can find a Naturopathic doctor who will evaluate your health in a wholistic way and find a treatment that takes into account your whole health: physical, mental, spiritual. They are even alleviating the symptoms of cancer and helping the body to heal itself. They use diet, supplements, and Chinese medicine techniques such as accupuncture to do so. So I hope you will consider the alternative medicine route the next time you have a health problem.
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Tatyana says:
Wonderful article,makes perfect sense!I was hurt by doctors and know many others who were too.Naturally,we are seeking other ways to be healthy and doctors seem to be our enemies.Like in everything,balance is a key.I get angry with doctors sometimes when they pretend to know it all and wouldn`t pay attention to other people`s knowledge. Most of all,they push drugs on children and even can take your child away if you “don`t follow protocol”
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john Fielder says:
Hi Frederic,
Found your article on western medicine quite intriguing. My response to it is:
1. Generally speaking, it is my personal opinion, that the use of currently available medical means, which includes all forms of medicine, including Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Naturopathic, etc., would only occur fo one who s truly dedicated to building and maintaining their health, in the case of an accident where surgery was required, and or in the case of an abherant mutation, such as hemophilia.
2. Of course this requires that there be available Dr’s with the knowledge, understanding, and trained to deal with life as it manifest itself, and the conditions we are faced with on a day to day basis without the use of medicines.
3. And yes it is possible and practicable to do this.
4. I have, as you well known, been in practice for some 50 years now, and doing just that. I have dealt with, and continue to deal with, almost every conceivable medically diagnosed condition, including childbirth., setting bones etc.
5. The vast majority of the cases I deal with these days are people who come under the title of “medical rejects”. They are people who have been told there is nothing more that can be done for you. The way you are is not curable and you must learn to live with it for the rest of your life. In many instances they have been told that they have a limited time to live and to put their affairs in order.
6. In spite of this negative environment, I have a very high success rate, which I believe speaks for itself.
7. You may read about some of them on my blog
8. In addition I would like to mention that our bodies are self-healing, and if given half the chance will perform so-called miracles.
9. To enable this process to occur requires (a) trust in the process, and (b) to take back the power we give away when we trust in medicines.
10.A major part of this process is the taking responsibility for what is happening to us. To stop blaming other things such as bacteria, virus, people. etc.
11. And of course all of this requires a quantum leap in our thought processes and approach to life.
12. As a large percentage of people are not yet ready to make that step in their lives, I do not foresee a rush to the barricades to do so.
Wishing you all well,
John
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Hi Frederic,
Further to my previous comments I would like to address a commoly held mis-conception with regards to so-called infections, inflammation, and acute disease.
All of those mentioned are only the words used to describe our bodies action as it heals, or endeavours to heal itself from the damage that we have done to it by our unnatutural habits, and/or exposure to an unnatural environment. If approached Hygienically, is most certainly not to be feared, and in reality, is to be thankful for. And when suppressed by whatever means, be it anti-biotics, or so-called natural remedies, leads to chronic ill-health, and eventually death.
Further, and I do think this is a very important point for many, Raw Food, and Raw Eating, are only one aspect of our lives that enables us to be well. Fresh air,sunlight,exercise, rest, a happy social atmosphere etc., are some of the others, and to focus only on raw foods is what is termed as “one-sidedness”, and cannot be expected to provide the answer to all of our ills. In fact, it is my considered opinion that it is possible to focus on everything else and kill ourselves with the thoughts in our own minds.
Enjoy the day.John
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I do agree with you John that the high success rate of natural hygienic practitioners such as yourself in desperate situations proves that modern medicine has its really deep flaws. Thanks for your input!
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Michelle says:
I loved your article and it was quite timely. I have been fortunate in being exposed to alternative and natural healing methods that helped me ‘cure’ my daughter of severe eczema that I was told she would have for life, and to bring my again father’s health back (one weak in pain in a wheelchair, walking just fine and pain-free after just 2 weeks with me). I have also learned that some of what can only be described as the elite wealthy class, do not use doctors for primary care, but see homeopaths and other natural health practitioners. And I have met a lot of people who have been cured from all sorts of ailments, including mental diseases, using raw foods, energy medicine and other natural treatments. I also have a son who has been doing very well without medications despite an ADHD diagnosis (not to say I subcribe to a disorder by that name but it is a convenient way to describe his typical behaviours).
While I think that most doctors are well-meaning, and diagnotics can be helpful if one keeps in mind that results are matched against a ‘normal’ cooked food eating population, unfortunately the pharmaceuticals industry long-ago hijacked (and founded in some instances) medical programs so that after all the brilliant stuff med students learn, they are then taught that only drugs or surgery can correct problems. For heaven’s sakes, some schools are dropping Etiology (which I belive is the study of the causes of disease) from their programs. I admire anyone who wants to study medicine, but it annoys me that so many, once they are doctors, become egotistical know-it-alls who see patients as mostly ignorant when it comes to health. When an oncologist tells you (as one said to my friend who had breast cancer, while said oncologist microwaved her lunch in a styrofoam container) that “food has no effect on cancer”, then you have to wonder. The cancer cure success rate for allopahtic practitioners is 2% (adjusted to correct purposeful manipulations) and natural health centers such as Gerson and Hippocrates success rates are over 90%. Hello?
MDs are definitely experts in some things – trauma care for instance, but it is rather annoying when they make sweeping statements like the oncologist, about things they acutally know not much about. It is an ego thing I think, sometimes unintentionally adopted. You become a medical expert and of course now you know everything about health and your opinions are not to be questioned (which of course means therefore you are expressing fact and not an opinion).
However, I have to say, we as a population also contributed to this in that we do whatever we want to our bodies (I’m referring to the general population now) and then go to doctors, give away our power, and expect them to undo what we did. We do this out of ignorance mostly of course, but regardless, it is up to us to get throughly educated and start making adjustments to or lifestyles, whether diet, job, attitude, etc. rather than rely on the allopathic medical profession. We have to understand that when we go to the doctor, he or she runs tests and gives us an opinion. But we must also remember that the doctor’s training does not allow him or her to ever opine that any food, herb or natural means will cure what ails us. That is not their training. You will almost always leave with a prescription, the usual result of a doctors opinion on what will help. Afterall, the law (U.S.) does state that only a drug can cure disease.
Things are changing slowly though. I too was once very anti-doctor. I am changing my attitude although I generally feel that trauma care is the doctors’ main area of expertise and that medications can be helpful on occasion until a course of natural treatment can be put into place. I now prefer to focus on promoting alternative means of achieving health rather than fighting against the allopathic profession and pharmaceuticals. The war against cancer had not gone so well so I now prefer not to be involved in a war against the pharmaceutical industry or allopathic profession.
