In the past it used to be the custom in the country to carry out a programme of cleansing the blood every spring. People would gather fresh leaves from blackberry and raspberry bushes, strawberry plants and ribwort (ribgrass), coltsfoot flowers and, where possible, cowslip. They would pour boiling water over these young green shoots and flowers and drink the infusion in the morning and evening. Honey was added to sweeten it.
This ‘spring tea’ is still recognised for its pleasant effect on our well-being. Those who take it regularly are convinced that it purifies the system, purging it of the winter’s metabolic wastes and infusing the new energies of spring. Some medical practitioners may turn up their noses, discarding the idea of blood-cleansing as being erroneous and unscientific, but there is no doubt that such herbal cleansing stimulates the body’s mechanisms and in this way achieves an overall cleansing effect.
According to the views held in ancient India, the blood and the circulatory system can and should be purified from time to time. Rasa is the ancient Indian word for the blood or body fluids, and Rasayana Kalpa is the name used for a blood-cleansing programme following the model and method of the ancient Indians.
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Always remember that nature will be able to rectify problems as long as the necessary raw materials are present. This principle should be observed in our diet and if it is, the body will respond, but if our diet is deficient, we must see to it that the necessary materials are supplied.
Recently, interesting observations have been made concerning the effect of this mineral on hard swellings of the tendons and ligaments, dilations of the tendon sheaths (known as ‘ganglia’) and even glandular tumours and hard cyst formation. It is gratifying to know that, besides other treatments, such a simple natural medicine as Calcarea fluorica will benefit these conditions. It would, of course, be unreasonable to expect too much from any given remedy, because we must remember that disease is hardly ever attributable to the deficiency of a single cell salt. Others, too, may be lacking and need to be replaced.
It has been found that cataracts of the eyes are usually associated with a deficiency of Calcarea fluorica, and their treatment should include taking this mineral in alternation with Kali chloricum (potassium chlorate). Sclerotic deposits on the eardrum, which may give rise to deafness and ‘head noises’, as well as painful whitlows and itching, and eczematous diseases of the skin are also relieved by taking this remedy for a period of time. Calcarea fluorica should be taken together with Millefolium (yarrow) or Aesculaforce to improve the elasticity of the walls of the veins in all cases of haemorrhoids (piles), varicose veins and phlebitis (inflammation of the veins).
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One day I was cutting grass on a steep meadow when I hit my foot with the scythe. It was careless of me, but I did not immediately disinfect the cut, only bandaged it with a handkerchief and carried on with my work. Because of this negligence, it was not surprising when blood poisoning set in. Well now, I thought, this is a chance to put our herb to the test and see whether the Indians were right. I proceeded exactly the way Black Eagle had taught me. Already a long blue line was visible on the leg and higher up, in the groin, there was a swollen lymph node. So I covered the whole leg with a dressing of crushed Echinacea leaves. Furthermore, I chewed some and swallowed the juice. In fact, I ate the whole plant. Now came the surprise, for within quite a short time the inflammation and infection were gone. This experience convinced me that everything I had been told about Echinacea was true.
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Loss of fertility might be considered the moment when the man becomes unarmed. ‘Have a vasectomy and join the club.’ It is impossible not to have attitudes to vasectomy, though the overwhelming first response to the event was that it was ‘a small job and made no difference’.
There is evidence that the quality of marriage for the woman may improve after vasectomy (Adler, Cook, Gray et al., 1981). On the other hand, there is a measurable regret for some men which leads to requests for reversal (Howard, 1982).
Mr G. is a fireman and one of those men who described his vasectomy as a ‘small job’. He then reassured himself by saying it was a difficult part of life at last put behind them and that they could relax. Sex was the same and the family complete. The doctor felt a strong hint that discussion of the matter should now be completed, and it was for the time being. Later Mr G. relaxed and was able to say how much more time he had at home, particularly because ‘we don’t seem to need so much sex now, and anyway the children need so much of our time’. Some time later the discussion returned to contraception. ‘Did it take long to decide about a vasectomy?’ ‘No. She said . . . . , well, we agreed that I would do my bit, and it didn’t matter who was done.’ There was a long silence. ‘I wonder if your wife would have decided so quickly about being sterilized herself?’ After a pause he replied, ‘You know, in a way, I thought more about it afterwards. It took me several months to get used to it. At first I thought I was bound to go off sex, but it is no good getting cross about it.’ Mr G. became visibly upset, and it was necessary to arrange a follow-up consultation later, which had a satisfactory outcome.
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She said, ‘We waited all these years deliberately until the time was right.’ Their world was now ready for a baby; they both had good jobs, their new house was completely furnished, and most of their friends were now having babies. It was just this physical block and the shape of her vagina that was causing the difficulty.
They had tried on so many occasions but her husband’s penis just would not go in.
The doctor was able to do a smear quite easily, probably because there had been some introital stretching with their attempts at intercourse, and she tried to reassure her that there did not appear to be a physical block in her vagina. However, she felt that more time was needed to explore this woman’s difficulties, and she referred her to a special psychosexual clinic.
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The responsibility of dealing with abortion rests uncomfortably on the shoulders of the medical profession. Doctors are trained to preserve life and many feel a moral and ethical objection to terminating it. However, views are often confused and despite vociferous objections to liberal abortion from many in the medical and nursing profession, they themselves have been shown to make good use of the abortion services (Potts, Diggory and Peel, 1977). A further difficulty is that the patient has usually made her own diagnosis and has prescribed her own treatment. Medical training, on the whole, teaches doctors to take a careful history, evaluate the symptoms, make a diagnosis and offer treatment and advice. This may lead to some doctors finding it difficult to be mere technicians, responding to the patient’s wishes. Overall, therefore, in dealing with a woman with an unplanned pregnancy, we may end up with a reluctant doctor and a reluctant patient.
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The Pill is a very powerful contraceptive; taken correctly the chances of pregnancy are small. This is a great benefit to women, but it is also a double-edged sword. The desire to become pregnant is not always an entirely intellectual and rational emotion, and many women enjoy the element of risk inherent in other, less safe methods. The very effectiveness of the Pill can trap her, she feels taken over, becomes angry at this, and this anger is easily transferred to sex itself, causing frigidity. Sometimes, there is a cogent and usually unconscious feeling that this total control is cheating nature, that nature will get its own back in some unspecified way, and no amount of scientific explanation of the overall benefits of oral contraception will alter this. Whatever the reasons for unease at taking the Pill, the result is often that the women forgets to do so, or develops a series of problems necessitating frequent changes of Pill. She is signalling that the method, although extremely effective as a form of contraceptive, is wrong for her. Exploration of the hidden reasons for these anxieties help her to decide on the method which is best.
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However, deeply held cultural and religious traditions are often more powerful than political pressures, and they continue to influence individuals in much of the developing world and in certain ethnic groups from Asia and Africa in Britain. For example, there is a West Indian belief that a woman has a certain number of children inside her which she has to have and that nature should not be interfered with. We seek our immortality through our descendants, our children and our grandchildren. To thwart the possibility of conception can produce, at a deep psychic level, guilt about being anti-life and opposed to God. The words ‘contraception’ and ‘birth control’ sound hard and alienating, going against nature. Family planning, though less applicable to young people seeking advice on preventing pregnancy, has a softer ring to it. Although nowadays most people, certainly in the western world, do not want many children, and the benefits of contraception are self-evident, nevertheless there is a hidden psychic cost that is often denied but that can surface from time to time.
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Steroid nasal sprays (e.g. Beconase, Syntaris, Rhinocort) are often prescribed for pollen allergy and are best used for the pollen season, and a short while in advance only. For grass pollen allergy, use is recommended from early May to the end of grass pollen season (mid to end July). For tree pollen allergy, use is often recommended from
February, depending on the pollens which affect you. Nose bleeds sometimes result from use of nasal sprays.
Steroids are sometimes given as short courses of treatment for severe seasonal rhinitis as tablets (e.g. Prednisolone) or by injection (e.g. Kenalog).
Steroid eye drops should only be used under the direction of an eye specialist. They can have serious effects if not used appropriately.
Steroid creams and ointments (e.g. hydrocortisone creams or Tinnocort, Betnovate, Dermovate) are very commonly prescribed for eczema and dermatitis. If too much is used, the steroids are absorbed through the skin and can result in the general side effects described above. It is unwise to use steroid creams and ointments lavishly, to smother a child or adult in them, however badly affected, or to use them continuously over a long period. Always consult your doctor about the best way to use these and other medication.
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If you find that you are sensitive to your tapwater, do not be daunted. It may not be as great a handicap or as difficult to deal with as it first appears. Unless you are exceptionally sensitive and very unlucky, it may be sufficient to take great care with water you swallow – for drinking, cooking and in dilute drinks and foods. For these, use a bottled water that you tolerate, of filtered or purified water.
Jug filters are reasonably effective at reducing chemical contaminants and are adequate for most sensitive people. Plumbed-m filter systems are more effective and convenient.
Take made-up drinks with you- or your own water, when going to work or school. Give toddlers and young children their own cup to take to nursery or playgroups. Take packed lunches if you are concerned about water used for cooking. If you have a sensitive baby, use bottled or filtered water to make up any feeds, boiling first and preparing feeds as usual. Avoid processed foods and drinks made up with water, as described in the detection programme above. You can make up your own fruit juices, for instance, by buying fruit juice concentrate (available from health food shops or direct from wholesaler Suma. You can make your own soya milk from soya flour.
On social occasions, arrange in advance to have a water you tolerate available, or take your own bottle if you have to. Friends, family, even restaurants, are usually very accommodating if you explain the situation. Bottled waters are now widely available at pubs and cafes. For children’s parties, arrange in advance with hosts what your child will drink – if necessary, delivering a drink in advance so that your child does not appear too conspicuous.
If travelling or away from home, take a portable jug filter with you. Keep a jug filter at work, or take a flask of hot drink with you.
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