Contents

PREFACE

  1  What is Health?

  2  A Healthy Heart

  3  A Healthy Liver

  4  Healthy Kidneys

  5  Healthy Blood

  6  A Healthy Mind

  7  Healthy Nerves

  8  Healthy Endocrines

  9  A Healthy Stomach

10  A Healthy Spleen

11  Healthy Bowels

12  Healthy Lungs

13  Healthy Bones

14  Healthy Joints

15  Healthy Muscles

16  Healthy Eyes

17  Healthy Ears

18  A Healthy Nose

19  A Healthy Throat

20  A Healthy Skin

21  Healthy Hair

22  Healthy Feet

23  Healthy Food

24  A Healthy Metabolism

25  That’s Health

GLOSSARY OF REMEDIES AND SUPPLIERS

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Books available from the same author:

By Appointment Only series

Arthritis, Rheumatism and Psoriasis

Asthma and Bronchitis

Cancer and Leukaemia

Heart and Blood Circulatory Problems

Migraine and Epilepsy

The Miracle of Life

Multiple Sclerosis

Neck and Back Problems

Realistic Weight Control

Skin Diseases

Stomach and Bowel Disorders

Stress and Nervous Disorders

Traditional Home and Herbal Remedies

Viruses, Allergies and the Immune System

Nature’s Gift series

Air – The Breath of Life

Body Energy

Food

Water – Healer or Poison?

Well Woman series

Menopause

Menstrual and Pre-Menstrual Tension

Pregnancy and Childbirth

The Jan de Vries Healthcare series

Questions and Answers on Family Health

Also available from the same author

Life Without Arthritis – The Maori Way

Who’s Next?

HOW TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE

Copyright © Jan de Vries, 1995

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author has been asserted

First published in Great Britain in 1995 by

MAINSTREAM PUBLISHING COMPANY (EDINBURGH) LTD

7 Albany Street

Edinburgh EH1 3UG

ISBN 1 85158 754 3 (paper)

ISBN 1 85158 755 1 (cloth)

No part of this ebook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for insertion in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Preface

Some time ago, on a nice summer’s day, in the Botanical Gardens in Brisbane, Australia, I was asked a very unusual question during an interview with some Australian journalists. A young journalist asked if I had ever imagined that I might be called upon at some future time to treat royalty and famous people from the theatre and sports world. I had never given the matter much thought, but having been confronted with this question, it made me think back to the scepticism about alternative medicine that was prevalent at the time when I was converted to this form of medicine by Dr Alfred Vogel. In those days we had to battle with the concept that only allopathic medicine could offer acceptable and trustworthy healthcare. Fortunately today, it is with some measure of satisfaction that I see the progress towards a broader spectrum of healthcare and the move towards dispelling some of those narrow-minded beliefs. The question also reminded me just how long ago it was that I first became fascinated by the possibilities of alternative therapies, and I realised that in the year 1995 I had a great deal to celebrate.

I first met Dr Alfred Vogel in 1958, and in 1959 we started working together. It was not until 1960, however, that I was appointed as the first director of what has since grown to be the largest manufacturer of herbal and homoeopathic remedies in the Netherlands. That is now thirty-five years ago and ever since then we have worked very closely together. There is no doubt that Dr Vogel has been a great mentor. So much has happened because, although my career began in the Netherlands, I did not stay there. This year it is exactly twenty-five years since I arrived in Scotland, where I set up a clinic offering treatment with natural medicine on the West coast, in the small town of Troon in Ayrshire. Never in my wildest imagination could I have foreseen that this clinic would grow as it has. Together with my many co-workers we have sometimes treated as many as two thousand patients in one week.

I recently realised that this would be my twenty-fifth book and therefore it has been given twenty-five chapters. Furthermore, in 1995 my wife and I will also celebrate our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and we have four daughters who are all, in some way, involved in medicine, either orthodox or alternative.

Although this book is primarily meant to provide practical help for people on a number of different health-related subjects, it might be somewhat anecdotal here and there, where I have drawn upon some of the experiences I have encountered in my seven clinics. I am still very much involved in practices in the Netherlands; in Troon, Scotland; in Belfast, Northern Ireland and in Preston, London and Newcastle in England. Indeed, this wide variety of clinics in contrasting settings and environments results in a great mix of patients and medical conditions.

I sincerely hope that this book will be of help to the many people who, like me thirty-five years ago, are looking for other ways of treating the body that are more in line with the laws of nature, and who wish to be more in tune with nature. After all, it is true what Dr Vogel used to emphasise in most of his lectures: in nature everything is in balance. Man has destroyed much of this balance, but it should never be forgotten that this force of nature will always heal.

1

What is Health?

As one of the oldest universities in Europe, Edinburgh University has had its share of distinguished visitors. The story goes that an important visitor was once asked a question by one of his medical peers: ‘What is health?’ Because this visitor believed in the laws of opposites his initial response took the form of yet another question: ‘What is illness?’ He then went on to answer that question by stating that illness is disharmony. This important visitor was no less than the founder of homoeopathy, the German doctor Samuel Hahnemann, who lived from 1755 to 1843. I often wonder if this man, with his controversial beliefs, realised at the time how much impact his ideas would make on the world. With regard to the many new, so-called twentieth-century diseases, we must reconsider Hahnemann’s answer when asked for his definition of health. If the definition of illness is disharmony, then it goes without saying that health must be harmony. In the case of illness something has gone wrong in the body; in other words something is out of harmony or out of balance, and in order to find a cure we must first discover the cause.

When I studied in China I gained a better appreciation of what harmony is all about. There I visited the big square in Peking and the Temple of Supremacy. This led to the Temple of Perfection – and can one improve on perfection? According to the Chinese one obviously can, because the Temple of Perfection is followed by the Temple of Harmony. Certainly, illness is disharmony and finding the reason for the disharmony leads us to the main principles laid down by Hahnemann in the laws of homoeopathy. Health depends upon how well we adapt ourselves to internal and external changes. The practitioner plays a secondary role, because he is only the channel. When applying Hahnemann’s principles of homoeopathy we must first focus on finding the cause, as it is not the symptoms that should be treated, but the cause of the disharmony or illness. This makes sense if we think of the analogy that when the church is on fire and the bells are ringing, stopping the pealing of the bells will not put out the fire. If we do not bring out the firehose the fire will not be extinguished. The bells act as an alarm to convey that there is something wrong. So it is with illness. So often people take a tablet to subdue the pain, but this will not touch the root of the problem. The symptoms of pain or discomfort are a warning that somewhere in the body something is wrong – something is out of harmony.

It was this reasoning that attracted me to study drugs. Unfortunately, all too often drugs are prescribed to overcome the symptoms, without consideration for the underlying cause, which therefore remains untreated. Hahnemann insisted on finding and treating the cause of the problem, which in today’s terminology makes him a holistic practitioner. When I see people in my clinic with causative factors that have not been treated or removed, I can easily understand why it is sometimes stated that by suppressing disease we are rapidly creating a nation of chronic invalids. Suppression of an illness has no value, because the illness should be brought out and treated.

I remember a young man I saw not so long ago in my clinic in Northern Ireland. He was a tall, pleasant person, who clearly looked unwell. I asked him if he had had glandular fever and he replied that that was how his malaise had started. I told him that as far as I was concerned he was still suffering from glandular fever because his lymph glands were very swollen. He admitted that he often felt feverish and miserable. He had been prescribed antibiotics for his glandular fever, but the illness had obviously never left his system completely. I have often seen that a miasma can remain present for a long time, a miasma being a leftover from a previous inflammation, virus or infection. I started the treatment of this young man by prescribing some homoeopathic remedies to bring out the miasma. When I saw him a while later his condition had already begun to improve.

Even the smallest miasma can lead to major problems. I remember the case of another patient, a girl who came to me with the diagnosis that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Before I performed certain tests I asked her if the MS diagnosis was conclusive, and she replied that her doctor had been somewhat doubtful, but could not come up with anything more precise. I told her that I was doubtful that she had MS, although her system was under a great deal of stress and she was unable to walk. When I learned that she took the oral contraceptive pill this was reason enough for me to investigate further. It became apparent that, unfortunately, she was allergic to the pill, a situation I had come across several times before. I prescribed a powerful homoeopathic potency to bring about a healing crisis, and in the middle of the night her fiance phoned to tell me that she was very ill and running a high temperature. I congratulated him and he was taken aback because I did not volunteer to visit her. I told him that I would come and see her the next morning.

I understand that this may appear uncaring to the reader, but I will explain. In his experiments Hahnemann discovered that remedies obtained from animal, vegetable, mineral and biological material could be extremely effective in even the smallest potencies. From this, he arrived at his principle: ‘Similia similibus curantur’ – ‘Let like be treated by like’. In other words, if you have a cold and sniff a peeled onion, your cold will get worse, but it will leave the system very much sooner. When Hahnemann himself tried the drug cinchona, he was amazed to discover that it produced in him the very symptoms of the disease which it was supposed to cure. When he repeated the experiment, using different drugs with other volunteers, his findings led to a reinforcement of the great healing principle, first pronounced by Paracelsus. In this way Hahnemann paved the way for the future of homoeopathy, which allows for the successful treatment of twentieth-century diseases by selecting a remedy that corresponds to the problem.

The importance of Hahnemann’s principle becomes clear when we recognise that in MS patients, a miasma of measles has often been traced, or sometimes an allergy has been discovered in the background. After things had been brought to a head with my young patient the doctor who had diagnosed her as suffering from MS contacted me. By this time she was on the mend and had started to learn to walk again. She had told her doctor about the crisis and he wanted to know more about it. I explained about the homoeopathic potency I had given her, and he complimented me on my diagnosis of detecting the oral contraceptive pill as an allergen. Although not unknown, this is fortunately not a common occurrence. It is, however, possible that a minor factor may have major consequences and therefore it is important to ensure that all factors are considered when diagnosing a patient’s ailment. From my conversation with this girl’s doctor I realised he was still sceptical and that he doubted that such a small homoeopathic potency could possibly be effective. I know that it is very difficult to prove the effectiveness of homoeopathic remedies, but I have often witnessed that once the homoeopathic potency mixes with the patient’s saliva it can affect the person’s life force. It may be hard for scientists to understand, but I will quote from an article written in a Dutch newspaper dated 14 November 1994:

This account helps us to understand more clearly why homoeopathic practitioners set so much store on reaching a healing crisis. The research group also found that in order to overcome the original problem it was advantageous to promote a crisis. This is in line with the principles of naturopathy. My grandmother used to say ‘Give me influenza and I can treat every ill.’ By this she meant that with the help of a bout of influenza it was possible to bring the underlying illness out of the system. By suppressing a disease we compound the problem, and this becomes more evident with the so-called twentieth-century diseases such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), allergies and auto-immune diseases. It is my experience that these diseases are often the result of an underlying illness having been suppressed. We should work towards this crisis and I have often seen that the illness must travel back the same road from which it came. Sometimes patients phone me in distress because their condition has worsened; even though I have warned them beforehand of this possibility, in their anxiety they seem to forget this. When such a crisis approaches, there is frequently an increase in body temperature, but this is desirable in bringing the illness or condition to its conclusion. This generally happens with illnesses such as ME, which is often thought to be the result of a suppressed illness, similarly with Candida albicans, a condition which can be caused by taking too many antibiotics. This explains why there is no cause for undue worry when a healing crisis occurs, as long as we look at the body holistically.

The phrase ‘holistic medicine’ is often used in the USA and is based on Hahnemann’s principles of treating mind, body and soul. In lectures I often explain that man has three bodies: a physical body, a mental body and an emotional body. These three bodies should be in harmony, and if one of these bodies is out of harmony the individual’s overall wellbeing is affected.

All too often I see that treatment is specifically directed towards problems in the physical body, ignoring the possibility of the illness originating in the mental or emotional body. This insular outlook became very clear during my involvement in a four-year research project on arthritis and rheumatism. The inflammatory conditions were being attacked by strong drugs, sometimes aggressively, to try and control the inflammation. Arthritis and rheumatism are thought to be most commonly caused by infections, allergies or inherited weaknesses. I saw that many of those patients had problems in their emotional or mental body: tensions resulting from unemployment, jealousy, marital problems, etc. If we take into consideration the mental and emotional problems and observe the three bodies of the patient, we might be more successful in our treatments. I often feel that this is where medicine, in its totality, has failed. I concede that, initially, a rheumatologist, by sometimes attacking those problems aggressively, may achieve a speedier result than I could. From experience with my patients, however, by treating the three bodies of man, the longer-term results are better. So often physical problems can be triggered by an emotional upset. Such problems can develop from relatively minor disharmonies, going on to disturb not only the physical body, but also the mental and emotional bodies. Therefore the term ‘holistic medicine’ more accurately describes the necessary approach.

While I was preparing to write about this subject I remembered a case history from quite a number of years ago. It concerned a girl who was brought to me when I was lecturing in Canada. She was extremely ill and I was told that if I was wearing after-shave I should not approach her because it was likely to make her faint. The various doctors who had examined this girl could not agree on a diagnosis. ME had been mentioned, and so had hyperventilation and hyperallergy. I discussed her case with a few of my Canadian colleagues and with our combined forces we successfully tackled the problem. I remained in close contact with the girl’s parents, who kept me informed of her progress. When we first saw this girl her condition was very poor indeed. Eventually, we learned that this poor girl had been raped when she was very young. This sad situation had affected her emotional body like a poison, and had subsequently involved the mental and physical bodies so that her system had become very toxic, as if it was truly being poisoned. This is not unusual, because we are well aware that emotions, anxieties and stress very often lead to a toxic body. There was much work to be done. I cannot tell you how happy I was when, during my most recent visit to Canada for a lecture tour, she offered to join me on the platform and tell the audience her life story. She had fully recovered and had also regained her confidence, and was prepared to share her experiences in an effort to help others.

This story provides us with an excellent example of why treatment of these three bodies should take place simultaneously, and this is one of the major principles of homoeopathy. It is unfortunate that homoeopathy is sometimes unfairly attacked as a religion, because it has nothing whatsoever to do with religion. Homoeopathy is a scientific approach, the usefulness of which has once again been confirmed by the research findings I quoted earlier. Success depends largely on the practitioner choosing the correct remedy for the individual. Constitutional remedies are very important in homoeopathy. The appropriate dosage of the right remedy must be prescribed and for this too, the practitioner’s experience is very important. Complex remedies sometimes work in a different manner, but the fact remains that one simple remedy can cause a minor vibration capable of causing a change in a patient’s condition. It was Isaac Newton who said, ‘When one atom vibrates, the whole universe is shaken.’

Hahnemann was also intent on preserving the good in his aim to stamp out the bad. We see too often that the body is aggressively bombarded with chemicals or drugs in an attempt to destroy diseased cells, but at the same time these therapies also destroy healthy cells. This is often the case with antibiotics. The discovery of antibiotics was a major breakthrough in medicine and has proved to be a blessing to mankind. Sir Alexander Fleming, who lived not very far from our clinic in the West of Scotland, discovered penicillin. I know his family and I have tremendous respect for his discovery. However, Alexander Fleming never intended for antibiotics to be prescribed and taken like sweets, but unfortunately this appears to be a common occurrence nowadays. The word antibiotics in fact means anti-life: they are a means of destroying what is bad, but unfortunately also kill the good at the same time. The increase in candida problems, is largely due to excessive use of antibiotics. Of course, antibiotics can be a great salvation, but they should be used in the full knowledge of what they actually do.

On one occasion I accepted an invitation to give a lecture to several hundred doctors in Germany. I was asked to speak on the effect of viruses and allergies on the immune system. I had a very interested audience and this became particularly clear during question time. This is a slot I usually schedule at the end of my lectures. One of the less scientific questions was directed at finding out what my secret was because I had been asked to treat so many famous people. I told those present that I had no secrets and that I was prepared to share any knowledge, as I had done in the lecture that had just finished. During this lecture I had spoken about a number of remedies on which I was very dependent for the treatment of my patients. I reminded them that I had mentioned Echinacea purpurea, or Echinaforce. Without this remedy I would not have been able to help half the people I have treated, and therefore I often refer to it as my best friend and ally. It has never failed me and in cases where an antibiotic was necessary, or in the case of a penicillin allergy or immunity, Echinaforce has been essential. I reminded them that I had already explained the characteristics of the plant Echinacea and pointed out that the strength and immunity of that plant and flower is confirmed by the fact that the Echinacea plant will not wither if it does not receive any water, even if it is kept dry for a considerable period of time. Moreover, these characteristics are maintained when this plant is used in the preparation of remedies. In many cases it has proved itself to be more powerful than any chemical compound antibiotic.

I noticed some disbelief among my audience and some of them were openly critical. However, I received unexpected, but tremendous support from one of the doctors present, who spoke out in my defence. She asked if she could be allowed to tell us about a personal experience. She told the gathering that when she had been travelling in Brazil, she had developed an abscess in the mouth and she could not find a chemist to purchase any antibiotics. Finally, she found a little healthfood store and, remembering that her grandmother had always recommended chamomile, she explained her predicament to the owner. She was correct, because for oral infections a gargle with a chamomile infusion, as hot as possible, may render the offending bacteria harmless. The owner of the healthfood store did not have any chamomile, but he recommended Echinaforce without hesitation in the circumstances. He only had one bottle left on the shelf, but it was hers if she wanted it. She read the recommended dosage on the label – three times daily, fifteen drops before meals – and decided to double the dose. This lady happily told my audience that day in Germany that the abscess had burst that very same evening after she had taken a double dose three times over the course of the day. The next day she felt marvellous again. This is the kind of audience participation no public speaker can object to. This story also shows that strong remedies, which destroy the good along with the bad and are likely to cause side-effects elsewhere in the body, are not always necessary.

Then there is Hahnemann’s respect for the life force in the body. This life force is so incredibly strong that it is often under-estimated. Yet, in our daily lives this life force is under constant attack from the pollution of our food, water and air – three life-giving substances without which life would not be possible. This life force is essential for maintaining good health. Where circumstances cause a minor erosion, harmony will be destroyed. Anything that attacks this life force will affect our energy and our immune system. We can maintain our good health if we positively work at keeping this life force strong within us. A good, wholesome diet and natural remedies will help and this was one of the first things that attracted me to Dr Vogel’s philosophies. From him I learned to regard the body in its entirety and I also found that he was one of the few people who saw a plant, herb or a flower in the same way. In his remedies he uses the whole plant and obtains an extract by a carefully controlled process. I remember the many times we would take a walk in the Swiss Alps, when he would point to a plant and explain what its characteristics were. It was Dr Vogel who taught me that by looking at a plant it is often possible to identify a disease or illness for which this plant may be useful. In Creation everything is in balance and only if we find harmony in these three bodies of man can we find an answer to the question of what health is all about.

I have now been involved in the world of alternative medicine for thirty-five years, but I will never forget the first day I met Dr Vogel and how, as a result of his teachings, my future changed radically. In today’s society the value of these teachings becomes clearer when we wonder, or ask ourselves, what is to become of the human race.

2

A Healthy Heart

‘Keep the heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.’ These words appear in Proverbs 4:24; they were written by King Solomon and I sometimes wonder if he had been influenced by his father, the great King David, when he wrote them. My reason for saying this is that King David often spoke of the heart, the kidneys and the mind being tested by our Creator. In fact, all through the Bible we find that certain parts of the body are mentioned as providing pointers towards an understanding of the three bodies – the physical, mental and emotional bodies – of man.

I remember that during my studies one of my professors would frequently remind us that the mind is a mental state, the heart is an emotional state, the soul is a spiritual state and the body is a physical state, and that a harmonious relationship between these bodies is necessary for good health.

Sometimes I used to stay overnight with some friends when I attended my clinic in the Midlands in England, and I remember a particularly interesting conversation we had one evening. We discussed the stresses of life at a time when my friends were going through a particularly difficult period themselves. It was a very stimulating evening, and we had all been very honest with ourselves and each other. We certainly had food for thought when we retired. At about two o’clock in the morning the lady of the house knocked on my bedroom door to ask for help because her husband was not at all well. I went to see him immediately and he was indeed very distressed. I was about to call for an ambulance when he seemed to settle. We eventually went back to bed, but I had to insist that he should see his own doctor the next day, because his heart was under tremendous strain and causing him great discomfort.

The heart is often an indicator of a person’s emotional state. The stresses and tensions of life affect the heart to such an extent that it sometimes can give us a fright, as it did with my friend. Fortunately, because I was there to help him that night, he is still very much alive and active, even though he should have retired some time ago. The action I took that night was to give him some Cardiaforce, and after a little while I also gave him some Crataegisan, a remedy derived from the hawthorn berry. Although I have worked with these remedies for many years, I am still amazed how obvious the signatures and characteristics of nature are. The hawthorn berry has been used for remedial purposes by many previous generations and that red berry is reminiscent of the heart, which is the motor of life. The heart is such an enormously important part of our life that we should diligently care for it. When the heart is calm and not overstressed this is reflected in the whole of the body. Again I quote King Solomon, who said that ‘a sound heart is the life of the flesh’. If we think of the heart in a holistic context, it is not surprising that it is affected by any illness or disease.

I remember a young patient, whom I had known for a number of years as a carefree girl, and a happy young woman. Unfortunately, when she came to see me it was because she had experienced great emotional problems. She had been very much in love with her boyfriend, and when he eventually dropped her she had not been able accept this. I realised that I was looking at someone who was dying of a broken heart. Emotionally, the heart is easily affected. Indeed, it would be wrong to regard the heart as no more than a physical organ.

From the physical aspect, however, we must marvel at the tremendous job the heart performs. I have practised for many years in Scotland, and it has saddened me to learn that Scotland supposedly has the highest mortality rate in the world due to heart disease. Yet this problem extends throughout the industrialised world. The official figures for Australia estimate that approximately 50,000 people die of cardio-vascular disease every year, which is approximately 1,000 people every week. The statistics are certainly not much better in countries like the USA and the UK.

You will appreciate that the heart must be a very strong muscular pump, because its weight is only approximately 10oz. To sustain life the heart has to beat about forty million times a year and it supplies every organ and all the tissue in the body with blood. The heart is a beautifully designed mechanism and in simple terms it functions as follows: the heart muscle contracts and pumps our blood, and the blood vessels and coronary arteries carry oxygen and nourishment to the heart muscle and the valves, through which the blood enters and leaves the heart. These very important parts constitute the task and function of the heart. It is essential that the heart muscle also receives enough oxygen to supply the small arteries, some of which are only one-eighth of an inch in diameter. A well-functioning aortic valve is of the greatest importance.

Sometimes we are guilty of not paying enough attention to our health, and this will catch up with us sooner or later. This happened to one of my old friends, a well-known and successful artist who spent his life fulfilling one commission after the other, without considering his health. He later admitted that he should have paid attention to some of the early warning signs. When he did eventually go for a medical check-up he was told that it was essential to undergo immediate surgery in order to avoid major complications.

I certainly don’t want to encourage people to become hypochondriacs or neurotics – there is already an abundance of them. Nevertheless, I must stress that the messages given out by the body should not be ignored. Pay attention if you suddenly become aware of unusual tiredness, or if you notice that your heart rate is irregular, whether it be slower or faster. The body is so well designed that it will emit alarm signals, relaying the message that something is not functioning properly. Seek treatment before bigger problems arise.

Now let’s look at what really happens when someone has a heart attack. First we will look at the coronary arteries, those vital blood vessels that transport the blood to the heart muscle itself. In babies and young children the inner lining of the coronary arteries is smooth and flexible, and the arteries are supple and elastic. The coronary arteries connect with the ventricles, receiving and pumping blood to the chambers of the heart. Artery branches extend over the surface of the heart, and the heart supplies these arteries with oxygen, mixed with carbon dioxide and other waste nutrients. However, with advancing age, or possibly because of poor physical care, problems can arise. The artery lining becomes gradually discoloured and thickens, and there is a deposit of fatty material. Then there can be danger. Problems like intermittent claudication, or the arteries to the brain being affected, or blood vessels bursting and causing haemorrhages can occur, and therefore it is important that we learn how these can be avoided.

Maintaining the correct blood pressure is very important in this process and in order to understand how coronary disease can be avoided, we should know what the important factors are:

1. the strength of the heart
2. the volume of blood sent out from the heart
3. resistance in the capillaries, especially those in the kidneys
4. the resilience of the artery walls
5. the tone of the vegetative nerve network
6. the delicate responses in the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nerve balance.

The diastolic, or tissue, pressure equals the resistance to the flow of blood in the tissues and the systolic pressure equals the diastolic pressure plus pulse pressure. Systolic pressure occurs as the heart cavities contract and force blood onwards, and diastolic pressure as the heart cavities expand and fill with blood. Again, one affects the other, and there are four million reflexes to the heart which act to raise or lower systolic blood pressure. From the point of view of an acupuncture therapist, the heart reflex in the foot slows the heart and makes it beat stronger. The reflexes in the left hand and in the arm above the elbow, make the heart beat regularly. Near the left eye is another reflex that makes heart beat faster and stronger. To raise and lower the diastolic pressure, reflexes to the kidneys, adrenals and the rectum are used. These are found in the foot and head zones. Many people know that a pain in the inner side of the left arm is usually indicative of some disorder of the coronary arteries. Always bear in mind that the digestive system, from the mouth to the anus, is most important, and in acupuncture I always treat these points.

It is possible to do this by treating the lymphatics and the kidneys, or even through the feet and hands, by balancing these predestined zones. Unfortunately, the lymphatics rarely receive the attention they warrant.

The digestive system plays a remarkably important role in heart disease and the feared expression ‘Eat yourself to a diseased heart’ is often proved to be correct. I once attended a Rotary dinner as an invited guest and while we were all conversing and enjoying ourselves, I noticed a friend of mine across the table turning very pale and then suddenly he slumped and fell off his chair. Fortunately, we were able to give him first aid, but he had suffered a severe heart attack, probably brought on by the momentary over-eating and over-drinking, with which his digestive system was unable to cope. I always emphasise to heart patients that they should watch their weight, masticate their food very thoroughly and to keep their meals small and simple. Large and rich meals can take their toll.

Tension is, of course, another important factor, and nowadays there is so much fear, stress and tension in our lives that the incidence of coronary thrombosis and other heart conditions is ever increasing.

It was in 1912 that a heart attack was first medically recognised, but it was not until 1925 that medicine began to gain some understanding of this problem. Why should it be that we now see such a tremendous increase in heart problems? There are a number of relevant factors: fear, worry, and tension are widely recognised as contributory factors, but the enormous change in diet is also a major influence. Before the 1930s the rich had a completely different diet to the poor, but nowadays the food intake for both rich and poor is excessive – too much sugar, salt and fat, as well as too much stress. I always say that our major enemies can be summed up in the three S’s, i.e. salt, sugar and stress. These results of a higher standard of living have had a detrimental effect on our health. It is sometimes said that we kill our loved ones with kindness, and this is not far from the truth. It may be interesting to know that during the Second World War there was a much lower incidence of heart disease and stomach and bowel problems. The little there was to eat in occupied countries was largely roughage, and although that by no means constituted a healthy diet, and there was widespread evidence of malnutrition, standards of general health were higher than today.

In my book Heart and Blood Circulatory Problems I have repeatedly stated that cholesterol is a major enemy of our health. This substance, if it settles as a jellied mass on the inner wall of the arteries, can cause them to clog. However, it is more significant that those little particles that travel through the arteries, where they sometimes settle, are mostly caused by excessive intake of animal fats, alcohol and nicotine. Also, few people take sufficient exercise, and instead of using our legs to get the messages from the corner shop, we are in the habit of taking the car – using our legs as extensions of the car pedals. This may be a novel idea, but it is not doing us any good. Walking is such an exhilarating and healthy form of exercise. I remember reading an article about an athlete who went running for at least one hour every day. At his death at the age of sixty-nine a post mortem was performed, and it was remarkable how healthy his heart was. Doctors pronounced that his heart was in the same condition as might be expected of a male in his early twenties. I am sure that it was totally different with King Henry VIII, who was renowned for eating enormous meals every day and whose health suffered badly because of it. Today, lots of people live like that king of the realm, only storing fat for the future, to the detriment of their health. There is a great deal of truth in the saying that you are what you eat, and therefore it is important to keep the heart in good condition, because the heart is the motor for our body. Protect against stress and take sufficient exercise, and together these precautions will undoubtedly result in a stronger heart.

Of the numerous cases I have been asked to treat during my many years in practice those that especially sadden me are congenital and inherited conditions. We know that the embryo’s heart develops during the first ten weeks of pregnancy, and that approximately one in every three hundred babies born is a so-called ‘blue baby’, in other words a baby with a congenital heart condition. Sadly, some of these babies die in their infancy, depending on the severity of the deformity. At other times, thanks to the remarkable modern medical techniques, developed especially during the last decade, these young children can be given corrective surgery enabling them to survive and subsequently lead a full life.

The various heart conditions each require a different approach, but in general terms wonderful remedies such as Arnica, Crataegus, Spigaelia, and even Avena sativa, can sometimes be helpful. If there is a problem with body fluids a homoeopathic potency of lily of the valley can be helpful, even if the patient is on long-term medication prescribed by his or her specialist. It is believed that this flower has been used for medicinal purposes for at least four hundred years, yet many of us have this flower growing in our own garden without appreciating its medicinal characteristics. This flower has also been called ‘Return of Happiness’ and, possibly because of its pure white colour and its sweet fragrance, it was believed to have the power of pointing mankind in the direction of a better life. This explains why, even in modern times, a bridal bouquet often contains a sprig of lily of the valley.

Happiness is of the greatest importance in terms of our health, and especially so for a heart patient. Rarely a day goes past without me being reminded of the three bodies: physical, mental and emotional. Last week I again saw a patient who had probably one of the most serious heart conditions I have ever treated. When I first saw him some three or four years ago, his blood pressure was shockingly high. His heart was in an extremely poor condition and his prospects looked grim, and with all that he still had to keep a demanding and thriving business going. His wife was very caring and supportive and told me how worried she was about him. Fortunately, his doctor was kind enough to send me details of his condition. As well as the weakness in his heart he had angina pectorus. Certainly, this man was in desperate need of help. It was absolutely essential that he changed his dietary habits and, fortunately, he was aware of the seriousness of his condition and so decided to follow my advice to the letter.

I prescribed some remedies that would help to strengthen his heart and to control his angina. First of all we set about lowering his cholesterol level, in which we were soon successful, and he began to show a slight general improvement. However, about a year ago I learned that his wife had died. I was extremely concerned, as was his general practitioner. Fortunately, he has come through this emotionally stressful period, but neither his own practitioner nor I have found a real cure. To some extent he did that himself when he found a new wife, filling his life with happiness. I am sure that body chemistries have done something for him: when I saw him last week his blood pressure was fine and so was his heart rhythm, he was glowing with happiness and I was strengthened in my belief that the third body – the emotional body – is of vital importance to our general health. This man’s physical condition cannot be cured, but he is managing to control it better and it is this new-found happiness that has enabled him to do so. The improvement in his angina condition has been so remarkable that it prompted his specialist to enquire what he had done. He told him that first of all he had given up smoking and drinking, he had reduced his intake of coffee and tea, watched his diet, and that he was taking some homoeopathic remedies. One of the finest remedies for him was Viscum album (extract of mistletoe), together with Hyperisan, which is derived from Hypericum perforatum. As he had many problems with constipation, he also used a quarter teaspoon of Linoforce twice a day, which ensures a regular bowel function. Hence his great dietary efforts saved the day.

It is amazing how many people have an irregular heartbeat, and they will often benefit from the homoeopathic remedy wolf’s claw, or Lycopus europaeus. A few drops of this remedy will generally calm and reduce a rapid heartbeat, which seems to be more common in young people, who are particularly concerned by such symptoms. In general, I may recommend the remedy Kelpasan, possibly with some Urticalcin, or a supplementary vitamin preparation such as Imuno-Strength or Health Insurance Plus. Co-Enzyme Q10 has also proved very useful and I would certainly recommend three garlic capsules to be taken at night.

I have reached that age in my life when I more frequently receive news of the death of one of my contemporaries or of one of my friends. In many cases I learn that this death has been due to a heart attack and I know that the stress and tensions of life have claimed yet another victim. I remember being worried about my own health a few years ago, and I went for help to a friend whom I have known since our days at university. He gave me a thorough check-over and assured me that everything was all right, but added that I had a ‘sport heart’ at that time. I knew that this was possibly my own fault because I was working very long hours and because of my great energy I sometimes have to stop myself and make sure that I get enough rest and relaxation. Prevention is better than cure.

Many heart problems result from disharmony in other body organs or functions, but in all cases it is important to pay attention to diet and to be prepared to make changes. A healthy diet lowers the cholesterol level. Stop smoking and keep alcohol to the minimum. Take regular exercise and learn to relax. Have your blood pressure checked at regular intervals. Remember the three ‘S’s’ – salt, sugar and stress – and make sure you have an adequate intake of fibre in your diet to ensure a good bowel function. Fat is another problem that should be watched carefully and by this I mean the kind of fat that is eaten. All diets need to contain fat, but do make sure that they are of the right type, such as polyunsaturated or essential fats. Saturated fats have no dietary value and these are found in beef, pork, lamb, lard, hard margarines, dairy products, cakes, biscuits and pastries. When eating meat, cut off the fat, because then the diet will be less harmful, and although poultry tends to be less fatty, here also it should be borne in mind that any fat should be discarded. Fish is much more advisable. If you cannot bear to cut out salt, please try and reduce your intake, and consider replacing it with sea salt, or one of the excellent substitutes such as Dr Vogel’s Herbamare or Trocamare. Instead of sugar you may like to consider using honey. Coffee substitutes or herbal teas are much better than the usual beverages. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, especially apples, garlic, onions, aubergines, beans and soya. All this is simple advice, but it will be rewarding.

As far as supplements are concerned, it is wise to take some extra vitamins, minerals and trace elements and I often advise the use of Herbal Health Complex to try and keep the heart healthy. This is a herbal combination that includes vitamins, minerals and trace elements. This remedy has proved successful as a preventive measure, especially in cases of arteriosclerosis.

Perfect health is a very difficult term to define, because every human being is born with some cells of degeneration or some inherited problem. I am impressed with the definition of the World Health Organisation (WHO): ‘Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.’ Many supplements that are beneficial to general health are also of value for those with heart conditions, for example vitamin C, vitamin E and Oil of Evening Primrose.

During question time after a recent lecture to the medical staff in a hospital, I mentioned Oil of Evening Primrose. When I explained how necessary this substance is as it provides an essential fatty acid which is so often lacking in the diet nowadays, one of the students protested that I placed too much emphasis on this nutritional supplement. I then told the gathering that I was one of the first practitioners to prescribe Oil of Evening Primrose capsules in Great Britain and because of my long experience I had great faith in this supplement. The student denied that it could possibly be of such great value and suggested it was only yet another ploy to line the manufacturer’s pockets. As he was Scottish I asked him if he was familiar with the work of Robert Burns, the well-known Scottish poet, and although surprised, he agreed that he very much appreciated his poetry and could recite long sections of it by heart. I then explained to him that Robert Burns once wrote in a letter to his friend Dr Moore that ‘the blunders and the mistakes we make today is often to our ignorance’. This student took offence and asked whether I considered him ignorant. I explained that although Oil of Evening Primrose was ridiculed when I started prescribing it some thirty years ago, it is now prescribed by many doctors and is even available on prescription. He admitted that he had not been aware of this and he was quite taken aback. I quote here from a poem written in the eighteenth century: