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Introduction:Heart attacks (or 'events') and circulatory disorders are often a 'disease of the knife and fork' (a key phrase often used by natural healer, Richard Schulze). It may not have been our own 'knife and fork', it may have been our parents - but diet is, nevertheless, the cause. The simple and unfortunate fact is that most people would rather not admit the reason why heart disease remains at the top of the list for disease and fatalities. If we were to give heart and circulatory fatalities as much attention as we do AIDS, or even cancer, both of which rank lower in the fatality statistics list, we would be faced with the reality of examining what the British and other nationalities eat. Since writing this introduction I am pleased that many people have set about trying to help educate the public concerning diet via the TV, most noteably Carol Vordeman, Jamie Oliver and Gillian McKeith. We create problems for our children and our children's children by passing on our bad habits via our genes, creating burdened circulatory systems at birth which, according to surgeons, are giving rise to heart problems in younger and younger victims. Cardiac failure is no longer the province of the elderly and cholesterol, obesity and more now haunt and cause this and other problems in ever younger people. Within these figures, women are four times as likely to succumb to general circulatory disorders as men (in Britain at any rate), though actual heart attacks are higher in men. |
Dr. Christopher was healing hundreds of people from minor heart problems and circulatory diseases in the 1930s using natural healing methods. Now angiograms and CAT scans are able to prove the value of this kind of work to other medical professionals, showing that through diet, herbs and changes in lifestyle, coronary plaque in the arteries can be greatly reduced, thus ultimately making surgery unnecessary. |
The heart, to all poets, painters, spiritual guides and those who really know, is the key to emotional well-being. 'Open' your heart and you will feel loving, caring, compassionate and at peace with life. Should your general disposition be low, your nervous system stretched, or should you feel depressed or angry, your heart will be affected. It may close a little or a lot, or it can stay open but become sticky. In many ways, the heart and the way we feel, or rather how the mind feels, are interconnected. Singing, chanting, movement, dance, meditation and food can all 'open' and get to the 'heart' of the matter. |
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Nutritional Advice:The Chinese teach us that bitter foods are very supportive and strengthening to both the small intestine and heart and, in our present sugar-oriented society, I think this is an ever more important point to remember. Avoid eating excessive amounts of meat, in order to lower cholesterol levels and homocysterine levels. High homocysterine levels cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Folic acid and other B vitamins will greatly help lower cholesterol and homocysterine levels. |
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Fats should be avoided in general, while saturated fats, found in meat, should never be used. Moreover, when you are shopping, read all the labels on the foodstuffs you buy and, whenever you see oil or fats mentioned, consider that product undesirable. Olive oil, low heated (not above 90ºF) or used raw, is the safest oil to use, along with flax seed oil. Ideally purchase a cold-pressed, oxygen-free source, supplied in special light and oxygen-excluded containers. Salt is acceptable as long as you use the good-quality, hand-harvested, sun and wind-dried variety, such as Celtic salt. These salts have the correct balance of minerals and naturally tend to be lower in sodium. Used sparingly in cooked food, they are acceptable. Raw food doesn't need extra salt flavouring, but explore the use of herbs and spices which often negate the need for salt. Consider using coriander leaves, bay leaves, thyme and fennel. |
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Basic positive foods include beetroot (the colour of blood). Taken raw, juiced or cooked, it will clear, cool and strengthen the blood and heart. Use it mixed with apple or carrot if the taste seems too intense. Onions and garlic are master cleansers and coolers of the heart and whole system. Whole wheat (the whole organic grain of wheat) is another good heart strengthener. It will also help to cool and clear the blood, easing any inflammation. You can sprout the grains and eat the grass with salads - a preferable choice for the many who need to avoid cracked wheat. Following a mainly juice-orientated vegan eating programme for just 1 month can go a long way to normalising blood pressure and removing cholesterol build-ups. Use plenty of garlic (three to six cloves a day). You should also add plenty of medium to hot cayenne. As a guide, take a minimum of 1 small teaspoon per day, but 2 teaspoons per day would be better and 9 teaspoons would be excellent. Most fruits are rich in salicylate. This helps to keep the blood from becoming sticky and clumping together to form dangerous clots, so eat plenty of bilberries, lemons, oranges, peaches, prunes, figs, grapefruit, rhubarb, cherries, melons, nectarines, plums, apples and pineapple, always eating the skins (except, of course, those of melons, pineapples and grapefruit). The inner skins (pith) of lemons, grapefruit and oranges are an excellent source of riboflavinoids (vitamin P) which really strengthen the veins, arteries and capillary walls. |
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All the above fruits are also rich in vitamin C and will aid the structure and elasticity of the veins. Vitamin C also protects arteries from oxidation and diminishes the growth of plaque on the vessel walls. In modern life we are becoming more than ever deficient in vitamin C. This is because stress and pollution rob us of this vital vitamin which we are not capable of making for ourselves. If you have cold extremities, add raw black pepper or ginger to the fruits to add fire and warmth for yourself. Cholesterol is a vital part of cell membrane structure. It is needed for bile formation, hormone production and vitamin D synthesis and is transported from the intestine to the liver in order to perform these functions. Any excess that cannot be metabolised will be deposited in the linings of the arteries. Rancid cholesterol causes heart disease. Cholesterol-like particles called lipoproteins can cause the growth of plaque, which gradually builds up to an extent where it constricts blood flow. As previously stated, vitamin C helps to reduce the risk of these lipoproteins binding to the wall of the artery. The amino acid lysine also helps enormously as it 'reverses' the plaque build-up. Tumeric is also very useful for breaking down fatty deposits in the bloodstream, likewise Superfood - due to it being rich in B vitamins will greatly help reduce undesirable chloesterol. A cholesterol test kit available from High Street pharmacies will give you a quick guide to your cholesterol count, or you can ask your GP for a test. Always do the test before you eat in the morning. If it is high, here are some ways to help reduce it:
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Natural Healing:Cleanse and cool the blood, taking care of general circulation, liver, gallbladder, stomach and bowels via cleanses. A little sweating, (through hot showers, baths, saunas and exercise) as long as it's not exhausting or too heated, is beneficial as cholesterol can be sweated out via the skin. |
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Smoking will similarly stress and inhibit the body, therefore DO NOT SMOKE. Smoking accounts for a large proportion of cases of heart failure and circulation diseases (see the respiratory system). Exercise is vital, particularly with reference to the heart. It should be taken daily and carefully paced. At some point during the day, ideally after a period of gentle exercise, push the heart to rapid beat for five minutes; this will really make it pump and flex. Hydrotherapy will greatly help the heart and circulatory system, adjusting the temperature of the water according to your individual strength and tolerance. Training your body gradually over a period of time to tolerate the extremes of hot and cold will be extremely beneficial. |
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A castor oil pack placed over the sternum is excellent; make one the size of a washing-up bowl and place it slightly towards the heart side. A fomentation made from ginger, cayenne and mustard powders will also help. It can be a great relief to the circulatory system because it gets the blood moving. Increase the strength of the herbs according to your own strength and use once or twice daily. Massage and meditation will all enhance the circulatory process. Home-made hyssop or ylang ylang grade 1 or 2 are particularly good oils to be either massaged in or added to the bath. |
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