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Other works by Linda Lazarides Principles of Nutritional Therapy The Nutritional Health Bible The Waterfall Diet Treat Yourself with Nutritional Therapy The Amino Acid Report The Big Healthy Soup Diet Linda’s Flat Stomach Secrets
About the Author Linda Lazarides is one of Britain's most respected natural health experts, and author of eight titles on health and nutrition. In 1996 she helped the University of Westminster to set up the UK's first course in Nutritional Therapy. She is founder of the British Association for Nutritional Therapy, former nutrition editor of the International Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, and for several years worked as a complementary practitioner for the British National Health Service
©Linda Lazarides 2010 BCM Waterfall London WC1N 3XX United Kingdom www.health-diets.net Linda Lazarides asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This publication may not be transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Disclaimer This book is intended to provide information on the subject of naturopathy. The information presented herein is not intended as a substitute for medical training or advice, but every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. The book is sold on the understanding that the publisher and author are not liable for any misconception or misuse of the information provided and shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, damage or injury caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the said information.
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CONTENTS Part I: Basic Naturopathic Principles Chapter I: Digestion—The Foundation Of Good Health ..............................Page 8 The Stomach. Vitamin B12. Acid burning. Treatments for hypochlorhydria. The pancreas. The gall bladder. Gall-stones and gall-bladder pain. Increasing bile production and flow. The small intestine. Schematic representation of intestinal absorption. The colon. Substances which aid digestion (table). Digestive treatment protocol. Chapter 2: Dysbiosis ...................................................................................Page 19 Dysbiosis is a vicious circle. Triggers of intestinal inflammation. Antibiotics and fungal infestations. Candidiasis. Parasitic infections. Common parasites, bacteria and fungi found in the gut, and their health effects (table). Therapeutic agents recommended by Genova Diagnostics. Natural anti-microbials used in the treatment of dysbiosis. Natural agents used for intestinal healing. Anti-dysbiosis, antiparasitic and intestinal healing programme. Chapter 3: Metabolic Sediment ...................................................................Page 36 Middle-age spread.. Degenerative diseases. Chronic inflammation. Auto-immune diseases. Can the body eliminate metabolic sediment? Macrophages. Chapter 4: pH Imbalance .............................................................................Page 42 Acid-forming foods. Toxins and liver metabolism. Lactic acidosis. What causes chronic oxygen starvation? Compensatory mechanisms. Measuring acidity levels. Treatment of hyperacidity. Gut pH. Acetaldehyde. Chapter 5: The Circulation ..........................................................................Page 48 Problems with the macrocirculation. Angina. Heart attacks. What causes atherosclerosis? Homocysteine. Heart disease and nutrient deficiencies. Some important research studies. Diet or supplements? Linus Pauling’s theory. Cytokines. Abnormal heart rhythms. Congestive heart failure (CHF). The microcirculation. Capillary permeability. Water retention. Lymphatic drainage. Red cell rigidity and microclots. Treatments for the macrocirculation. Treatments for the microcirculation. Chapter 6: The Liver And Detoxification....................................................Page 61 Toxins. Ammonia and ketones. Environmental medicine. Chemical sensitivity. Toxic intermediates. Free radicals. Epoxides. Aldehydes. Chloral hydrate and Valium-like compounds. Fasting. Popular detox diets. Liver rejuvenation programme. Liver biotransformation (diagram). 3
LINDA LAZARIDES: A TEXTBOOK OF MODERN NATUROPATHY Part II: Nutrition & Physiology Chapter 7: Energy and Blood Sugar .................................................................... 72 Glucose metabolism and energy production (diagram). Electron transport chain. Mitochondria. Nervous system degeneration. Cold bath or shower treatments. Blood sugar. Causes of insulin resistance. Controlling insulin. Glutathione. Chapter 8: The Cell Membrane............................................................................ 78 Phospholipids. Components of the cell membrane (diagram). Sodium-potassium pump. Free radical damage. Effects of magnesium deficiency. Stabilizing cell membranes. Eicosanoids. Arachidonic acid. Chronic inflammation. Fish oil. Chapter 9: The Brain and Nervous System.......................................................... 84 Neurotransmitters. Calcium and magnesium. Other important nutrients. The circulation. Development of the brain in children. Behaviour. Mood. Blood-brain and blood-nerve barrier. Memory and ageing. Phosopholipids. Phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylserine. Sage. Chapter 10: The Immune System......................................................................... 90 Vitamin A deficiency. Zinc deficiency. Vitamin B6 deficiency. AIDS. Garlic and immunity. The elderly. Overactive immune system. Chapter 11: The Adrenal and Sex Glands ............................................................ 97 Underfunctioning adrenals. Effects of high cortisol. Nutritional deficiencies. Congenital hypoadrenia. Menopause. The ovaries. Oestrogen excess. Reducing oestrogen. Lack of oestrogen and progesterone. The testes. Hyperfunction. Treatment (BPH). Hypofunction. Chapter 12: The Kidneys ................................................................................... 105 Protein in urine. Progressive kidney failure. Frequent urination. Kidney function. Sugar. Heavy metal poisoning. Selenium deficiency. Fish oil supplements. Kidney Stones. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Sugar and insulin. Nephrotic syndrome. Polycystic kidney disease. Chapter 13: The Muscles ................................................................................... 112 The fabric of the muscles. Sugar is not a good carbohydrate for muscles. Ageassociated muscle loss. Muscle use and bone growth. Important nutrients for muscle function. Selenium. Myasthenia gravis. Toxicity. Bladder muscle control. Popular sports supplement. Chapter 14: The Senses ...................................................................................... 118 Eyesight. Myopia and presbyopia. Dark adaptation and bilberries. Cataracts. 4
CONTENTS Glaucoma. Macular degeneration. Hearing. Importance of healthy blood vessels. Can nutrition affect hearing?. Does fat cause hearing problems? Tinnitus. Excessive ear wax. Itching inside ears. Strategies to improve hearing ability. Taste and smell. Multiple chemical sensitivity. Chapter 15: The Skin ..........................................................................................128 Vitamin A. Silicon and sulphur. Ageing of the skin. Sun ‘allergy’. Sunlight and vitamin D. Risks of skincare product ingredients. Water. Acne. Eczema. Psoriasis. Skin cancers. Herpes simplex. Wounds and trauma. Chapter 16: Bones and Cartilage ........................................................................135 Vitamins D and K. Fluoride. Collagen-forming nutrients. Oestrogen. Bone demineralization. Cartilage. Osteoarthritis. Foods to avoid. Foods and drinks to consume. Anti-arthritic supplements. Glucosamine sulphate. Natural pain-killers. Rheumatoid arthritis. Chapter 17: Pineal, Pituitary & Hypothalamus Glands ......................................143 Hypofunction. Hyperfunction. Treatment. Anterior pituitary hormones (table). Pituitary and hypothalamus. Useful herbs Chapter 18: The Parathyroid and Thyroid Glands..............................................149 Phosphorus. Hyperparathyroidism. Thyroid Gland. Thyroid and breast cancer. Autoimmune thyroiditis. Testing procedures. Treatment. Selenium. Coconut oil. Radish treatment and raphanin. Chapter 19: Growth and Repair..........................................................................158 Gestation and infancy. Zinc. Selenium. Essential fatty acids. Obesity. Smoking and alcohol. Calories. Adolescence. Growing pains. Wound healing.
Part III: Factors Which Contribute To Pathology Chapter 20: Assimilation ....................................................................................166 Vitamin dependency. Symptoms and signs of nutritional deficiencies. What causes poor assimilation? Malnutrition damages assimilation mechanisms. Treating assimilation problems. Water retention. Chapter 21: Food Intolerance .............................................................................174 Problem foods. Testing for food intolerances. Chemical Sensitivity. Chapter 22: Air Pollution ...................................................................................178 Pollution makes you more allergic. Chest infections. Ozone levels and the common cold. Cancers. Benzene. Laboratory studies. Vehicle pollution health effects (table). 5
LINDA LAZARIDES: A TEXTBOOK OF MODERN NATUROPATHY Risks to filling station attendants. Industrial air pollutants. Chapter 23: Pesticides, PCBs, Dioxins .............................................................. 183 Health effects of pesticides. Chemical oestrogens. Chapter 24: Heavy metals .................................................................................. 188 Mercury. Sulphur intolerance. Lead. Aluminium. Arsenic. Testing for heavy metals. Removing heavy metals. Chlorella. Chapter 25: Pollution In The Office And Home ................................................ 195 Air conditioning. Sick buildings. Common chemical pollutants in the home. Scented products. House dust mites. Chapter 26: Food Safety .................................................................................... 202 Bacterial food poisoning. Moulds and mycotoxins. Aflatoxins. Natural plant toxins. Chapter 27: Protein Excess ................................................................................ 207 Over-Acidity. Bone Loss. Kidney Disease. Ammonia. Gut amines. Chapter 28: Peroxidation of Fats ....................................................................... 213 Cancers. Which fats? Antioxidants. Oil uptake by fried foods. Chapter 29: Gluten and Casein .......................................................................... 218 Food intolerances. Coeliac disease. Dr Nadya Coates. Oats. Autism. Gluten. Chapter 30: Vaccinations ................................................................................... 224 Is vaccination effective? Are vaccines safe?. Why vaccinate against childhood diseases? Autism and brain damage. Gulf War syndrome. France and hepatitis B vaccinations. Advice to parents.
Part IV: Special Health Issues Chapter 31: Fertility ........................................................................................... 236 Synthetic oestrogens. Oestrogenic pollutants. Fertility problems in wildlife. Mutations and anti-mutagens. Alcohol and beverages. Nutritional deficiencies. Treating infertile couples. Chapter 32: Infant Nutrition............................................................................... 243 Breast is Best. Probiotics. Infant formulae. Sugary drinks. Fluid. Salt. Growth. Weaning. Foods to avoid when weaning. Fats. Fibre. Additional vitamins. Chapter 33: The Elderly ..................................................................................... 250 Nutritional Deficiency. Immunity. Functional capacity. Life expectancy. Mental 6
CONTENTS function. Arthritis. Diabetes. Heart disease. Osteoporosis. Chapter 34: Food Aversions and Addictions......................................................257 Chapter 35: Degenerative Disease......................................................................263 Cancers and Otto Warburg. Natural cancer therapies. Chilli peppers. Osteoarthritis. Autoimmune diseases. Chapter 36: Mental Health .................................................................................270 Adrenal hormone effects on mood. Amino acid trials. Nutritional deficiencies. Depression and low blood sugar. Nutrition and schizophrenia. Dr Abram Hoffer. Heavy metal toxicity. Dr Carl Pfeiffer. Anxiety. Chapter 37: Infection ..........................................................................................279 Germ theories. Béchamps. Enderlein. Naturopathic treatment of infectious diseases. Chapter 38: Low Blood Pressure ........................................................................286 Depression. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic fatigue. Anaphylactic shock. Vitamin deficiencies. Dehydration. Underactive adrenals. Chapter 39: Surgical Issues ................................................................................293 Gastrectomy. Intestinal surgery. Cholecystectomy. Chapter 40: Menière’s Disease and Tinnitus......................................................298 Aspartame. Allergy. Tinnitus. TMJ. Toxicity. Nutrient deficiencies. Ginkgo biloba. Chapter 41: Vitiligo ............................................................................................304
Part V: Appendices Appendix I: Clinical Tests ..................................................................................310 Adrenals, atherosclerosis, fitness, cholesterol, collagen, fertility, kidneys, liver, lymphatics, menopause, ovaries, prostate, thyroid, urine pH. Appendix II: Avoidance and Challenge Test for Food Intolerances ..................315 Appendix III: Laboratory Tests for Nutritional Deficiencies .............................319 Appendix IV: Drug-Nutrient Interactions ..........................................................322 Appendix V: Fasting ..........................................................................................328 Degenerative diseases. Types of fast. Metabolism. Detoxification. Appendix VI: Ayurvedic Medicine ....................................................................330
Diagram The Healthy Plate .................................................................................................35 7
LINDA LAZARIDES: NUTRITIONAL MEDICINE & NATUROPATHY
About This Book A Textbook of Modern Naturopathy is intended to cover succinctly a wide variety of important lecture topics in the naturopathic or natural medicine curriculum. It is based on the many articles and factsheets I have written for students and practitioners since 1995. Many research studies are referred to in natural medicine training, but their significance as part of the bigger picture is not always clear. Apart from aiming to complement the many excellent publications which are already used as coursebooks, it is hoped that A Textbook of Modern Naturopathy will also play a holistic teaching role—helping to bridge some of the gaps in understanding disease processes and helping the student practitioner to see each problem and each research study in relation to the bigger picture. Two more books are planned for the near future as companion volumes for this text. One will be a set of practical protocols for use with many different health conditions. Each protocol will guide the student through the first consultation and each subsequent follow-up. The second companion volume will be a reference book covering foods, supplements, therapeutic diets, hormones, important enzymes and other useful information.
Acknowledgements My deepest gratitude and admiration go to all the people whose writings and research are mentioned in this book. People like Dr Jeffrey Bland, the late Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer, Dr William Rea, Dr Jean Monro, Dr Damien Downing and many, many others in the US, UK, Canada and worldwide are or were people of extraordinary dedication. Likewise the early naturopaths, who also sought something better than the toxic allopathic treatments of their time, deserve our honour and respect. Science is finally catching up with them as every day new discoveries are made which show that they were so often right. If you have suggestions or contributions for future editions of this book you are welcome to get in touch with me via my website www.health-diets.net.
Linda Lazarides 8
