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#5 Revealed Secret of Health from the 12th Century

This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Health Secrets From The 12th Century

HEALING CHRONIC DISEASE WITH MEDICINAL FOODS

This first premise of Maimonides’ fifth health secret is based on the fact that most illnesses result from poor diet:   

If the patient can be treated with diet alone, then he should not be treated with medicine. If it is impossible to control the illness without medication, the first choice should be medicine that is nourishing and foods that have medicinal properties.”

He continues on to describe when medicine of varying strengths should be used:

When using medicines, one should begin with mild ones. If these are sufficient, well and good. Only if they are insufficient  should one use stronger medicine.”

DIETS OF THE HEALTHIEST AND UNHEALTHIEST COUNTRIES

When first addressing chronic illness, Maimonides recommends that dietary treatment come before medicinal treatment. If this is true for those who lived in the 12th century, it is even more relevant in the current era. A recent Lancet study found that over 11 million deaths occur globally each year due to poor diet. Israel, France, Spain and Japan are among the countries with the healthiest diets and unsurprisingly, the lowest rates of diet-related disease.

The Lancet authors found that

“generally, the countries that have a diet close to the Mediterranean diet, which has higher intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy oils [including olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids from fish] are the countries where we see the healthiest people”.

The United States is positioned much further down the list of healthiest countries with a dismal ranking of 43. Over processed foods that are high in sugar and calories as well as an abundance of fast food contribute to the prevalence of many of today’s illnesses in the United States. Shockingly, diet has overtaken tobacco smoking as the leading cause of death in the U.S.. Unfortunately, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is primarily influenced by the food industry whose purpose is profits rather than health.

NOURISHING FOODS WITH MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

“Nourishing medicine” refers to herbal therapies that are used by naturopathic physicians and providers who are trained in Ayurvedic medicine. Both the naturopathic and Ayurvedic systems of medicine rely on herbal wisdom gathered over thousands of years that has proven successful in treating both acute and chronic health conditions. Echinachea, elderberry, ashwagandha, amla and ginseng are just a few of over 800 medicinal herbs available today. 

Most cultures have dietary customs surrounding medicinal foods. Thai cuisine is an excellent example. Galangal, the main ingredient in tom yum and tom kha soups, guards against throat infections and fevers, and the dried, mature garlic bulbs that are used for flavoring help naturally lower cholesterol. In addition, the holy basil leaf helps relieve bloating and heartburn and has antimicrobial properties, while the sweet basil leaf is often used to relieve headaches, colds, flatulence and bloating. Commonly used in curry pastes, the skin of the kaffir lime helps digestion and supports heart health. Ginger improves circulation and helps fight against diabetes and cancer. Finally, chili contains capsaicin, a biologically active ingredient beneficial for the respiratory system, blood pressure and heart. 

WHEN TO USE STRONGER MEDICINE

Maimonides’ rule that stronger medicine should only be used when milder medicine is insufficient is a general principle that should always be applied in the practice of medicine. Patients should not rush to their allopathic doctors for most illnesses as these practitioners only utilize what Maimonides considers “stronger medication” which almost invariably has numerous risks and side effects. 

In the early 1800s, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann realized that prescribed medications were actually weakening his patients and in many cases, contributing to their early demise. As a result of the suffering that he saw firsthand, he stopped practicing this type of “heroic” medicine until he discovered a new system of medicine known as homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies are known to be “mild ones” that rarely, if ever cause adverse effects, yet are nonetheless powerful stimulants of healing.

TREATING CHRONIC ILLNESS WITH HOMEOPATHY

In general, milder, more holistic illness treatments should be used when appropriate. Conventional therapy should only be used when a homeopathic approach is unsuccessful. Currently, more and more patients are seeking out homeopathic alternatives for conventional medicine. Unfortunately, most patients who seek out homeopathic help for chronic health conditions have already spent years following the guidance of allopathic medicine.

Many of these patients suffer numerous adverse side effects from conventional medications. Others face frustration when this type of medication proves ineffective. If allopathic medicine is failing to treat your chronic illness effectively and restore your quality of life, Renaissance Health Centre is here to help. Please call 702-258-7860 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pfau today.

Copyright © 2022 Terry Pfau D.O. H.M.D. All rights reserved.

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