The Time it takes to heal the Body
If you visit the doctor’s office with a painful knee or elbow and receive a cortisone injection, the pain is reduced
or goes away quickly. When using food, herbs, or vitamin supplements as a healing tool, the time frame is very
different. This article is about the time it takes to heal the body using a
Non- drug approach.
The idea that food or supplements could be used as a healing tool is now almost mainstream in acceptance. The
idea that fiber, found in grains, and fruits and vegetables was valuable to bowel health and overall good health
gained wide-spread acceptance through the work of Dr. Dennis Burkett, M.D. in the early 1970’s. Before this
time, fiber was considered of minimal importance.
In 1986, Dr. Bernard Jensen announced that after 50 years of teaching and practicing the natural healing arts
it was time for him to retire, and so he was offering his last two week course on Iridology to be held at his ranch in
Escondido, California. At the time, I owned a natural foods store called “Here’s To Your Health” in Hallandale,
Florida and was selling
Dr. Jensen’s books and food products.
When I began working for
Dr. Ann Wigmore, the influential teacher of WHEATGRASS/ raw foods/ vegetarian therapy at her healing arts
center Hippocrates Health Institute in Boston in the early 1970’s, Dr. Wigmore recommended her staff and
guests read Dr. Jensen’s books.
Dr. Jensen told the students “when you eat something that you are sensitive or allergic to, it takes 5 days to get
it out of the system”. When he first told us this, I accepted it as a philosophical statement. I assumed Dr. Jensen
meant that it took a certain amount of time for the body to rid itself of various substances. Later, I realized that
indeed, it takes 5 days for the skin to clear itself after you have eaten something that causes your skin to break
out. The thinking among some members of the healing arts community is that 6-8% of the population displays a
sensitivity or allergic reaction by experiencing skin problems. These include rashes, skin eruptions, or acne.
Other individuals eating foods they are sensitive to might have flawless skin, but they are prone to headaches,
breathing difficulties, joint pain, gastric distress, or sleepiness. I found Dr. Jensen’s time frame not to be
theoretical, but the actual amount of time it takes to see an improvement in skin health.
The idea that certain foods can be a contributing factor in skin problems is controversial. The average
dermatologist insists that food is not a factor in skin health. Dr. Nicholas Pericone M.D., a dermatologist whose
books on beauty and wellness are best sellers, writes that food is a significant factor. The approach of the
natural healer, is of improving skin health and skin appearance by using food, or supplements as therapy for
skin problems.
.
Not everyone will react to the same substance, and sometimes the amount of the substance and the frequency
with which it is eaten is of significance.
It has been my experience that the small percentage of the population that has problems with acne, rosacea,
cysts, or eczema, has a genetic predisposition to having their sensitivities/allergies show up in their skin.
What can this small subgroup of the population do to improve the quality of their skin?
For the vast majority of the population, what you eat does not seem to adversely affect the skin; it might
contribute to other health problems such as asthma, arthritis or bowel problems.
What nature cure ideas work to improve the skin?
Avoid foods you recognize cause you difficulty. If you find drinking cow’s milk gives you gas, head ache, causes
constipation or diarrhea this is a substance it is best to avoid. My experience has been that cow’s milk and milk
products including cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice cream or cream cheese; contribute to a variety of health
problems. Individuals who would like to improve the quality of their skin need to limit or avoid all cows’ milk
products. How long would it take to see an improvement in your skin when you avoid all cows’ milk products? It
will be different for everyone, for a teenager probably in as little as 10 days. A person over age 40, probably
three weeks. Improvement, using food as a tool for our health concerns takes longer as we age. This is a
different approach to healing the body than to give antibiotics over an extended period of time to an individual
with acne.
Foods that contain the protein Gluten, including wheat, rye, oats, corn, and barley can contribute to dry skin,
eczema and other symptoms of allergy.
In addition to avoidance, other nature cure ideas work to improve the quality of the skin.
Improve your digestion by chewing your food properly
An interesting exercise is to pick any meal and decide to chew each mouthful of food 50 times. I think you will
notice that after about 30 chews the food you have eaten is liquid and you then swallow it. You also will notice
you are satisfied eating a smaller volume of food. Most people overeat, some are more aware of this than others.
Eating less of the offending food goes a long way to minimizing an unpleasant food allergy effect. Those who are
unaware of food as a healing tool would be amused by this chewing of your food 50 times per mouthful
experiment. Horace Fletcher taught a system of wellness based on chewing your food. He was popular in the late
nineteenth and early twentieth century using this idea. The word to Fletcherize (chew) your food acknowledges
the impact of his ideas on American culture.
Digestive enzymes that help digest fat, protein, and carbohydrate are also helpful in improving skin health and
problems with gas and bloating. Depending on the individual, one tablet with each meal can (sometimes within
one day), and help to reduce discomfort. This approach does not mask the symptoms; it helps to correct the
problem. Some people over the age of 40 have diminished secretions of Hydrochloric acid to digest their protein
foods. There are many types of digestive enzymes, including Pancreatin, Pepsin, Betaine HCL, and vegetarian
aids including Bromelain, or Papain. My recommendation is to use a major supplement manufacturer rather than
a private label product. My reasoning is this way you know the long term track record of the company and its
reputation based on their formulations, use of raw materials, and quality control.
Probiotics, commonly referred to as acidophilus products, are surprisingly helpful in improving skin quality, aiding
digestive problems, and increasing energy in the body. The rational for their use is that the overuse or misuse of
antibiotics weaken and depress the immune system by changing the flora and fauna of the intestinal tract. Even
if you have not used antibiotics in 20 years you will be pleasantly surprised by how much better your skin looks
and how you can increase your energy. Often, one week on probiotics will bring about noticeable improvement
(less gas and bloating, better bowel movements) and after one month excellent improvement, in energy levels
and skin appearance. Fashion models with flawless skin; see improvement of their skin in one month. My natural
food store The Vitamin Center of Agoura Hills works with actors and models that search for methods to improve
their appearance and vitality. The foods that heal approach works well.
An additional factor in improving skin health is helping the body to move the bowels on a daily basis. The theory
is that if you eat 3 times per day then you need to have 2-3 bowel movements per day. Some might disagree, or
are shocked by the whole discussion of bowel health. As Dr.Jensen said “Bowels are central to good Health” You
will find that using foods that contain fiber, including, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, baked squash, brown rice
and millet, assist in gaining regularity( please note that these recommendations are all gluten free). Sometimes
due to our past health history of long term antibiotic treatment or other medications or surgery, your bowels will
not work even if you are eat carefully. In these instances using probiotics and digestive enzymes are helpful.
Bowel foods such as Aloe Vera or laxative products which contain senna or cascara sagrada, or psyllium seed
can also be helpful on an as needed basis. Nature’s Way herbal company has a number of excellent products
which have proven themselves over many years. Many of their herbal products are the formulations of John
Christopher, whose pioneering work kept alive the American herbal tradition at a time when drug therapy was
gaining wide acceptance and herbal use was in danger of being dismissed as old fashioned .
There are many ways to treat a health concern; the method I outline here is one good way.
Thank You,
Joshua Lane
August 25,2009