Thus far, it might seem that the controversy over food intolerance is a two-cornered fight: orthodox medical opinion on the one hand, versus various ‘unconventional’ doctors (called clinical ecologists in the USA) on the other. Life would be a great deal easier if this were true, but it is not.

To complicate matters, a great many unqualified practitioners have moved into the food-intolerance ‘market’. Doctors will, of course, be shocked to hear any medical field described as a market, and that, perhaps, is part of the problem. The medical world may feel it is above such things, but in fact it is just as much subject to the laws of supply and demand as any other profession. The news about food intolerance, and what it might do for those with migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, and other long-term illnesses has filtered through to the general public, despite medical disapproval. People suffering from such illnesses are understandably interested to know more, since most have been told by their doctors: ‘There’s nothing much I can do, you’ll just have to learn to live with it.’ These patients represent a large segment of the population whose need for treatment is not being met by conventional medicine.

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Working shorter hours tends to cause more stress because less time is available, and more concentration and haste has to be packed in. The change to a five-day week implemented some years ago has, in the main, failed its original purpose. The working week lost another day so that more effort had to be crammed into five days, resulting in greater fatigue which, together with the increased tension, is difficult to shake off and the additional day of rest cannot be enjoyed fully.

In addition to work there are usually too many other obligations, not to mention the diverse opportunities to engage in new and exciting activities, crowding out the intended relaxation. Years ago, people came home from work and were happy to sit on a bench in front of the house and relax until it grew dark.

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I recently visited the family of a farmer whom I knew through friends. It was a chance visit, and the farmer’s wife, who had heard of me and had also read some of my publications, took advantage of the opportunity to talk to me about her little daughter’s condition. She described the girl’s symptoms, and how she usually lay in her bed quite listless and apathetic, and it occurred to me immediately that this was probably some form of poisoning. The little girl had been treated with penicillin in hospital, yet her condition had deteriorated. It so happened that I knew the senior consultant of the hospital personally and would say that he is an excellent physician, but unfortunately he was looking for the pathological cause in the wrong places.

I asked the unhappy mother about the circumstances she could still remember from before her little daughter fell ill and whether she could think of any influences that might have been responsible.

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The Creator made all natural products with a rich and varied content. All are extremely valuable in their original composition. But man has often overlooked this wisdom and learned little or nothing from it. In this connection I remember one of Professor Kollath’s expressions: ‘Let nature be natural.’

However, it has been quite a while since nature’s produce was left simple and natural; instead it has been violated by refining, denaturing, devaluing, colouring and flavouring, often with chemical additives. While enumerating these violations, we cannot help thinking of Kurt Lenzer who speaks in his writings about ‘poison in the food’.

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Since these juices, with the exception of carrot juice, are somewhat unpalatable on their own, try mixing them in thick minestrone soup. The vegetable flavours will neutralise the strong taste of the raw juice. As pointed out already, add the juice only after the soup has been taken off the heat, so as not to lose the medicinal value. If this should make the soup lukewarm, gently warm the juice in a double boiler before adding it to the soup. You will have to eat this soup with the raw juices twice a day and between meals take an additional 200 ml of juice (about 8 fl. oz). In grave cases, 400-500 ml (just under a pint) of raw juice daily is absolutely essential.

Proponents of nature cures and nutritional therapy were advocating the use of raw juices long before scientific research began to confirm their value. Patients should remember the proven effects and be willing to persevere with the treatment until the hoped-for results are obtained.

It is amazing that it was in the United States where these drastic methods of treatment were developed and practised, for it is there, more than anywhere else, that poor nutrition has led to such modern diseases of civilisation.

Patients elsewhere should show the same perseverance in adhering to a raw juice diet that may be relatively unpalatable but will eventually lead to rehabilitation. Mere taste is a small price to pay for health restored!

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Bread and cakes can also be made with germinated wheat, or rye, barley, or any other cereal. Bread and muesli prepared in this way are far more nourishing than anything made from flour that has been stored, and that you may have to store even longer before use. The oxygen in the air is harmless as long as the grain remains whole, but as soon as it is milled into flour it begins to destroy many important nutrients, especially the highly active ferments. If used fresh, and if possible germinated, the goodness of the whole grain is available to us.

So, if you eat wheat raw, either in muesli or using any other method of preparation, you will have at your disposal an energy food that contains all the important vitamins and minerals of the grain in their complete and unchanged form.

It is amazing to see the effect of such a wholefood on sick people. They derive infinitely greater benefits from it than from the most expensive remedies. Natural food is without doubt the best medicine for every nature-oriented person.

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Problems in the male partner after childbirth may have a significant influence on the quality of the couple’s sexual relationship. These problems may be caused by many different factors, some of which will not be fully conscious. A study of the doctor/ patient relationship may provide a clue to the problem. Sometimes the couple are unable to express their feelings openly because of anger or fear of hurting each other. For the family planning doctor the problems may be expressed as difficulties with contraception, or the disturbed sexual relationship may make contraceptive decisions difficult. Where problems in the male partner are acknowledged or suspected, an offer to see him or the couple together can be helpful.

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The rhythm method implies a great deal of control but is poorly understood by many men. Several of those spoken to thought the rhythm method meant withdrawal. Once clarified, it was clear that there were many misunderstandings. The days after menstruation were regarded as safer than those before. However, those couples who did use it seemed to share their understandings and were happy. As expected, these were couples with a keen desire for the natural, or strong religious beliefs. They were aware of confusing medical advice on timings, and had their own feelings about what was safe despite the advice. Usually both the man and the woman knew when she ovulated, and this closeness was apparent in discussion. ‘It puts a brake on us’, said one man. ‘If we have been cross with each other, she doesn’t always ovulate, and then we have to wait.’

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Contraception is often considered to be just about stopping babies, but it also says a great deal about having a good sex life without the fear of a pregnancy. Why are doctors so afraid to bring up the topic of sex with their patients when discussing contraception? It is so important to elicit possible problems early on. Is she wanting a good sex life with no babies? Is she wanting to delay her family until the ‘right time’, and also have a good sex life? Is she wanting to enjoy an active sex life with her partner without the obvious responsibilities that a baby will produce, at the present time or maybe forever? Is she having a sex life at all – or is it just that everyone else takes the Pill when they are in a stable relationship, engaged or getting married? The assumption that sexual intercourse has taken place when the woman has been on the Pill for many years is common, but it is not always justified, and appropriate comments or questions to clarify the situation should be mandatory.

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The provision of the best possible care for young people in today’s society, with pressure towards sexuality coming not just from the internal forces towards maturity which have always been present, but also from the peer group and, most strongly, from the media, is not easy for the professional. There is an over-riding need to provide the practical help necesssary to reduce the risks in an atmosphere that is acceptable to the patient, as has been described in this chapter. Considerable skill is needed to allow the patient to feel that her sexuality is allowable and valuable, while at the same time warning her of the health risks.

What, then, of the more general health education that is offered to other patients? The family planning consultation is seen as an ideal opportunity to broach such subjects as smoking and obesity, but the young person may feel such advice to be ‘yet another lecture’. If given unthinkingly, she or he may be antagonized so that they stop coming for the contraceptive help which is so desperately needed. However, if given sensitively and at an appropriate time, the assumption that she or he is now grown up enough to want to look after themselves can enhance self-esteem.

Perhaps the most difficult dilemma for the doctor, as for young people themselves in the age of AIDS, is to reconcile the strong, inevitable and healthy emotional and sexual drives, with the possible risk of serious damage to their health or even death. The equation

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