HIGHER BLOOD CHOLESTEROL
Everyone is now conscious of raised cholesterol as a marker of potential diseases of the heart and brain— the consequences of clogged arteries. In 1987, at an international gathering of cancer research scientists in Greece, I exposed the scientific reasons why increased cholesterol production in the body is a direct consequence of chronic dehydration.
We have to assume that the genetic structure of each cell empowers it to act independently, if environmental conditions are not to its advantage. The cells of the human body have the same capability as bacteria to adapt to their environment by altering their membrane structure. Similarly, human body cells alter the cholesterol content of their membranes to prevent the uncontrolled seepage of water in or out of their inner domains. Normally, water is meant to seep into the cell at a slow but exact rate.
Cells also possess a mechanism for getting rid of excess water. However, if the cell water has to be kept inside because its environment is becoming comparatively dry, the cell membrane has to be sealed off. Cholesterol deposits within the structure of the membrane carry out the process of sealing off the membrane—the very pores that allow water to diffuse through get sealed off.
Normally, when food is eaten, water and enzymes have to be poured into the stomach and intestines. The enzymes break the food particles into their smaller building blocks by inserting one molecule of water at each of the amino acids' many points of bondage that make up the protein structure and mass. Free water is used up to allow this action to take place. The result is that the body has less water and more soluble solid matter that needs to be transported in the now comparatively water-depleted blood and lymph circulation.
The result of this digestive process is concentrated blood that leaves the intestines and goes through the liver. In the liver, some of this food load is taken away from the blood, and the balance is poured into the heart at the right side. At this right heart entrance, the lymph from the intestine also pours into the blood. The first place that this concentrated and now circulating blood visits is the lung tissue. Here more water in the form of vapour is lost from the circulating blood during the breathing process.
Now this concentrated blood is brought to the left side of the heart and pumped out. It goes to the arteries that feed the heart itself, then to the arteries of the brain, and then to the main body artery, called the aorta. When this concentrated blood reaches the brain centers that deal with the osmotic regulation of the body, they
signal the conscious mind that the body is short of water. The alarm for thirst develops, and the person feels the urge to drink water.
There is a fairly long time gap between the exposure of the liver cells and the cell lining of the arteries to the concentrated blood and the time water is taken into the body. The time gap of water intake after food and the dehydrating influence of concentrated blood is sufficient to cause a cholesterol-amassing and generating activity in those cells that come in contact with the concentrated blood—such as the liver and the lining of the arteries. In time, a physiological pathway for the manufacture and deposit of cholesterol in the lining of the blood vessels will occur. The only way the cells that cannot form cholesterol can protect themselves is to pick up cholesterol from the circulation and deposit it in their membranes.
Raised cholesterol level is a sign that the cells of the body have developed a defense mechanism against the stronger osmotic forces of blood. The concentrated blood would normally keep drawing water out through the cell membranes. Cholesterol is a natural sort of waterproof clay that, when poured in the gaps of the cell membrane, helps keep the membrane's architecture intact and prevents excess water loss. In chronic dehydration, additional amounts of cholesterol will continue to be produced by the liver cells and poured into the circulation for the common use of all cells that do not possess the power to manufacture their own. The additional cholesterol will also make the cell wall impervious to the passage of water that naturally takes place in a normally well-hydrated cell.
To prevent excess cholesterol deposits by the cells lining the arteries and the liver, you need to drink regularly an ample amount of water a half hour before food intake. By this action, the cells of the body will become well hydrated before confronting the concentrated blood after food intake. There will also be enough water for the processes of digestion and respiration, without needing to tap into the water held inside the cells lining the blood vessels.
After a period of regulating daily water intake so that the cells gradually become fully hydrated, the cholesterol defense system will be required less, and its production will decrease. In light of this information, the range of normal blood cholesterol will probably prove to be far less than the values quoted at present. It is now becoming apparent that effective reduction of cholesterol levels in the circulating blood could promote a clearing of already formed deposits.
I had occasion to advise a man in his early forties whose angiogram had revealed partial blockage of his coronary arteries. The blockage was such that he had developed chest pains. I advised him not to have bypass surgery without first trying a conservative treatment for his condition. He agreed to adjust his daily water intake and to begin by taking two glasses (just under one pint) of water exactly half an hour before each meal. I advised him to walk one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening (to start with, twenty to thirty minutes at the beginning, increasing gradually to one hour).
I explained that research has shown that the hormone-sensitive, fat-digesting enzymes become activated after the first hour of walking, and remain active for twelve hours. The reason for the twice-daily walk was the need to activate the fat-burning enzyme on a regular basis and for its recognized cumulative action. Three months later the man went to one of the famous centers in Houston for a final checkup and an assessment of his need for bypass surgery His new angiogram showed no sign of the previous blockage He no longer needed surgery.
By the way, there is no 'bad' cholesterol because the body does not produce any 'bad' cholesterol to harm itself. 'Bad' cholesterol is a term coined by the pharmaceutical industry to sell their anti-cholesterol drugs. Drink enough plain water for your present body weight and your cholesterol level will be normal again. Follow the Water Cure Protocol Formula, daily.
CORONARY HEART DISEASE (click here)
FROM NOVEMBER 1979 TO MAY 1982, I had the "honor" of serving time at "Evin" prison, Tehran , Iran. Evin is the historical prison which has set the pace of revolution in the country. It is composed of several "blocks." At Evin, people experienced the course, dimensions, and (as a result of the power struggle from within) the transformation of the revolution. The conditions and the emotional aspects of life there could not be compared with the experiences or settings most readers have known.
A predominantly starch diet was available. There was no shortage of medication. A critical shortage of cell space at the onset woefully deteriorated. Any professional contact had to be in the presence of the guards, who were always suspicious! I was lucky to have been able to make my observations in Block 3 when I was waiting clarification of my own situation. There I could follow-up my patients before movement became restricted and inmates were confined to their completely isolated individual or group cells.
Men and women from all walks of life, of all ages, under the prevailing uniform condition there, unfolded their particular response to different levels of stress.
Clinically diagnosed peptic ulcer disease was one major manifestation of this stress.Younger people (men much more than women) presented the typical symptoms and signs, from simple epigastric pain experienced for the first time, to recurrence and exacerbation of complaints in patients with chronic ulcer disease. Symptoms even reached the point of semi-consciousness from the intensity of pain, suggesting impending perforation; intermittent pain during the day or night; pain which limited sleep; and continuous intense fluctuation pain. Melena with anemia and hematemesis, on many occasions, supported the clinical diagnosis.
In January 1980, a chance incident forced me to treat one of the inmates , who late one night sought relief for unbearable pain, with 500 cc (two glasses) of water. His pain became less severe and then disappeared completely after 8 minutes. He was an experienced "sufferer" with a long history of repeated treatment, and found relief of pain with water a surprising but welcome experience, particularly as it permitted him to avoid any contact with the guards. He agreed to take the same amount of water every 3 hours as if he were maintaining a diet of nine "meals" a day, during his waking hours; he took three regular meals and six "water meals." The water intake was regular. Food was eaten as it arrived, to allow for the fluctuating time of arrival. The little pain he felt in between his "meals" became less severe and disappeared totally after 3 days. I told him to maintain this diet for 6 weeks. he was given no other type of medication. He had achieved a "clinical cure" with water only for the duration of his stay of a few months in the environment that had "caused" the symptomatic recurrence of an ulcer previously diagnosed by x-ray.
The result of this simple method of "treatment" seemed now too good to be abandoned or ignored. I pointed out the advantages of not depending on medication by this method, under the circumstances, especially to those who had a long history and had tried various methods of treatment with the number of medications available. Those who tried the method were satisfied. The final acceptance by everyone in Block 3 came when a man in his 20s, who had a long history of duodenal ulcer disease, developed another episode of pain at 1 P.M. His symptoms gradually worsened; antacids that he had taken and the several tablets of cimetadine he had kept against such a day did not help. By 11 P.M., he had so much pain that he had become semiconscious. Absolute relief came in 20 minutes after swallowing 500 cc water followed by another 250 cc water 15 minutes later. This total recovery was a source of amazement to me and to the young man's friends who could not believe his transformation. This simple method became the accepted standard treatment for peptic ulcer disease pain in Block 3 of Evin prison, accepted even by those who had political obsessions and personal prejudice.
The group of men in Block 3 were slowly changing because of investigation and sentencing. More and more, these men who suffered ulcer disease pain accepted this "new method" of treatment (recommended even now) now consisted of one glass of water (250cc) half an hour before meal, and an equal amount 2½ hours after each meal (i.e., 1,500 cc of water /day of 3 meals). The patients were told they could drink an extra amount if they were thirsty. The duration of treatment recommended was between 4 and 6 weeks, in keeping with the average time an actual ulcer would take to heal.
A "maintenance course" of a glass of water (250 cc) before breakfast and a similar amount 2½ hours after the three meals in "severe stress cases" proved most effective.
High urine volume and, therefore, sodium loss produced cramps in some of the first patients. As a result, extra salt intake with meals was recommended. Some of the people taking this treatment had to get up in the middle of the night to urinate. These two physiological side effects were the only observed disadvantages to this method of treatment.
The repeated positive results even in patients with a long history of duodenal ulcer disease who responded to treatment with water, who even chose this method in preference to the standard medication methods of treatment, even when antacids, H2 blocking agents, and anticholinergics were readily available, indicated to me that we were dealing with a physiological correctable or controllable state. As a result of lucky access to printed information on peptides of the GI tract, the subsequent stage of my clinical formulations became feasible.
During the last part of confinement, I became involved at the main prison hospital which drew patients from section clinics. Many patients with hematemesis* and/or melena with low blood pressure and/or low hematocrit were seen. They were treated with blood transfusion (up to 8-10 X 250-450 cc of blood to maintain a systolic blood pressure of 90 - 100 mm mercury or a hematocrit of 30). Except for the first ill patient who was given cimetidine (4 tablets of 200 mg for 2 days only, with a supplement of a late night injection of cimetidine again only for 2 days), none of the patients received chemical medication. They were provided with a large jug of strong sugar-sweetened water, with instructions to drink a glass every hour. This period gradually increased to a glass every 1½ hours and then every 2 hours. After 36-48 hours when a feeling of "hunger" would begin, light food with water according to the foregoing schedule was the only treatment needed; i.e., once again, the clinical improvement was definite and no medicines (antacid or H2 blocking agents) were necessary to reestablish improvement. No surgery became necessary. There was no mortality from GI bleeding in these patients. No recurrence of bleeding was seen.
[NOTE: *Hematemesis or haematemesis is the vomiting of blood. The source is generally the upper gastrointestinal tract, typically above the suspensory muscle of duodenum. Patients can easily confuse it with hemoptysis (coughing up blood), although the latter is more common. Hematemesis "is always an important sign". Hematemesis indicates that the bleeding is from the upper gastrointestinal tract, usually from the esophagus, stomach, or proximal duodenum. Occasionally hemoptysis or vomiting of swallowed blood from epistaxis can be confused with hematemesis.]
[NOTE: The hematocrit, also known by several other names, is the volume percentage of red blood cells in blood. It is normally 45% for men and 40% for women. Blood is composed mainly of red blood cells and white blood cells suspended in an almost clear fluid called serum. The hematocrit test indicates the percentage of blood by volume that is composed of red blood cells. The condition called "anemia" results from having too few red blood cells.]
The authorities, who by now could not block to ignore these results any longer, conducted an unofficial trial of their own. They had a questionnaire, which I drew up, reproduced in multiple copies. In a closed "off-limits" section with 600 persons, 240 (40%) were using medication to treat their "ulcer" pain. These people filled out the form and went on the water treatment. The result was dramatic. Water treatment for peptic ulcer disease became the standard form of treatment for that institution and has survived beyond my enthusiasm and incarceration!
During the 2½ years in prison, I must have seen well over 3,000 patients with ulcer symprom. I follow-up about 600. The follow-up information from the rest came to me from their guards, from physicians in charge of other sections, and from chance meetings or messages received. The almost total lack of demand for antacid from the pharmacy during the last few months was an indicator of the success of this treatment, which had spread to all the sections. Even the prison authorities adopted this method for themselves, for they too suffered from peptic ulcer! The final recognition came when my captors, who earlier would have shot me with the least excuse, later confirmed in writing to the Medical Council, the effectiveness of this new method of treatment of peptic ulcer disease, requesting them to inform the medical profession of Iran through their journal.
The implications of this method of treatment seem important, especially the importance or usefulness of "a glass of water" as a diagnostic tool. The following points deserve emphasis:
1. Experience with thousands of patients showed that simple, clinical peptic ulcer disease complaints, the ones in whom a doctor would not suspect a complication, respond to this method of treatment. One glass of water (250 cc) relieves pain within 3 - 8 minutes. Sometimes a little more may be necessary.
2. A few cases of "appendix pain" without other clinical manifestations also responded and became pain-free. Be it from a response of the ileocoecal valve or a cutaneous representation of common thoracic nerve roots, this observation indicates that a
site of pain other than epigastric may herald a clinical picture of duodenal ulcer (d.u) disease.
3. Of the few patients who did not respond to this treatment, further questioning and investigation revealed other pathology. A colleague's case diagnosed a "d.u." when he adopted this method of treatment for his patients (he is conducting an open trial), developed severe "pain and signs" precipitating the need for diagnostic surgery. The condition proved to be acute cholecystitis.
4. In the majority of patients, the relief of pain was preceded by eructation of gas "indicating" that the passage of diluted acid was made possible after what may be relaxation of the pyloric sphincter.
In view of this experience, I suggest that a different interpretation of the "absolute" validity of the design and the conclusions of the "randomized clinical trials" on peptic ulcer is necessary. The water used to swallow a "pill," be it the actual medicine under test or the placebo control (up to now considered inert), has proven to have a definite (physiological) effect of its own. It is possible to theorize that water has its effect before the pharmacologic substance under study achieved optimum blood levels. My experience also suggests that the high cure rate with placebo in controlled studies reported up to now were not without a good reason. Any interpretation or comparison of medication against "placebo" should be reconsidered, due to the body's response to water as a "natural medicine," although in insufficient volume and not at the peak of secretion of acid (in d.u. patients). I think that water must be essential in maintaining homeostasis through the appropriate peptides in the region.
Acknowledgments
In this preliminary observation, the author thanks all the friends and foes who made these observations possible; the dedicated colleagues still in captivity who were of constant support and who have developed genuine belief in this method of treatment : Dr. David Fulmer of Princeton Medical Group who became a supporting voice even before seeing the author; Dr M. Litt, chairman of the Bio-Engineering Department , University of Pennsylvania, who has given the author temporary access to the facilities of the University: Dr. Mary Berwick, Bio-Medical Library, University of Pennsylvania, whose search indicates that the author must face the questions on this particular method of treatment alone; and finally Professor Iraj Zandi, University of Pennsylvavia, for his enthusiastic support.
F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.
Princeton, New Jersey
Write for reprints to: F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., P.O.Box 1512, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.
To determine how much water you need each day, divide your body weight in half. The answer is the approximate number of water ounces you should drink daily.
“E-TAO self-healing methods” are derived from Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) and they differ
from therapies of modern Chinese medicine. For better comprehension, I’ll use plain language to
explain the relationship between CCM and “E-Tao self-healing methods”, where the understanding
of several specific terms is of utmost importance.
Forget the disease name.
This is the primary term we use to interpret “E-Tao self-healing methods”, and it is also one of the
secrets to the success of self-healing we advocate.
Regardless of what disease one has, he/she must first forget its name. Please note that it is the
name that should be forgotten, not the disease itself. A disease name is just the tip of an iceberg;
there are likely other, more severe underlying diseases that even doctors and patients themselves
are unaware of.
Disease names are only labels affixed by doctors and drug producers based on
known pathological indicators and statistics, yet these labels do not necessarily identify the actual
diseases. A set of symptoms, or a disease with a particular name, may have different contributing
causes. Dispensing prescriptions based solely on a disease name with no regard to its causes may
worsen the condition.
Disease names can be very misleading. Here, I’ll use two very common ones — hypertension and
diabetes — to exemplify my point.
To doctors and patients of hypertension, it is natural that anti-hypertensive drugs should be taken
to control blood pressure. The relationship between blood pressure and the heart, liver, spleen and
other organs are simply overlooked. As a result, the body’s internal organs are often damaged by
drugs taken.
Almost all anti-hypertensive drugs are diuretics that could do damage to the functions of the kidney.
This will firstly lead to lowered libido, declined sexual function, prostate disorders and a variety of
urinary system disorders such as frequent or involuntary urination, etc.; Secondly, it will lead to
insomnia, bone loss, Alzheimer’s disease, hair loss, tinnitus, hearing loss, and shortened lifespan; in
addition, Western medicine is considered acidic from the perspective of Chinese medicine, and the
acidity will destroy the tissues of blood vessel walls, causing blood vessel ruptures that could lead
to stroke and heart diseases.
The cause and effect mentioned above could be hard to grasp with only knowledge of Western
medicine; however, it is clearly stated in the theory of Chinese medicine that “the kidney governs
the bones, its health is shown in the hair, it opens at the ears, and it controls memory, the urinary
and defecating functions, and governs natural lifespan.” Hence, without intake of anti-hypertensive
drugs, as long as the Kidney, Heart, Spleen and Liver Meridians (energy channels in the body that
are connected to their respective organs) are cleansed, blood pressure will naturally return to normal.
In effect, there is no definitive standard for “normal” blood pressure; it relates to one’s age,
physique, mood, and many other factors. It also changes from day to day, and fluctuates with one’s
mood and activities. Doctors and drug producers set standards and label diseases to establish
benchmarks for reference and to boost drug sales. Taking antihypertensive drugs inevitably
induces more disorders, such as liver, kidney, stomach and eye problems, and even more drugs will
be needed to treat those new diseases. Many hypertensive patients die after years of medication,
yet it is found that their deaths are not caused by high blood pressure. In this sense, the name
“hypertension” is quite misleading.
Another good example is diabetes, whose name is also misleading due to the use of blood sugar
indicators. Your doctor tells you that you are diabetic and should take hypoglycemic drugs, and
then tells you if your blood sugar is not under control, it will easily lead to heart problems, even
glaucoma (an eye disease) in severe cases. This is the kind of knowledge taught in medical schools
all along. Without knowing it, doctors are brainwashed by drug producers to act as salespersons
for their drugs.
Unfortunately, this has turned the causality upside down. By practicing Paida and
Lajin, we’ve learned that in all diabetics, Sha (toxic waste that comes out during
Paida) will appear when the Pericardium and Heart Meridians on the inner elbows
are slapped. This signals that they already have heart problems but are unaware.
When these people practice Lajin, they will feel pain at the back of the knees and also the root of thighs, which indicates that the Urinary Bladder, Liver, Kidney, and Spleen
Meridians are all blocked, i.e. these organs all have problems. Problems with these organs are the
real cause of high blood sugar levels. Further investigation reveals that all diabetics suffer from
emotional problems, to varying degrees, such as tension, anxiety, depression and other mental
disorders; such emotional turmoil can lead to endocrine disorders. Let alone adults, most teenage
students are stressed out before sitting a major exam, thus suffering endocrine disorders or
abnormal blood sugar levels.
In short, diabetes is caused by endocrine disorders, which is related to the heart, i.e. a condition
due to emotional problems. Some people are overly obsessed with money, power, social status or
their children, and these obsessions make them tense and anxious all the time. Naturally, the
endocrine system will not function properly. Some people find relaxation and pleasure solely in
dining, and they end up eating and drinking too well, too much, burdening the endocrine system. If
hypoglycemic drugs are taken without taking into account the causes, it will only further damage
the functions of the heart, kidney, liver, spleen and pancreas.
As a matter of fact, doctors and patients themselves are aware of the negative effects of medication.
Drug descriptions clearly state that they are damaging to the kidney, liver, spleen, heart and other
internal organs. Once the internal organs are damaged, the sensory organs and limbs will also be
damaged. In effect, the term “diabetes” implies that there is an underlying group of other diseases,and this phenomenon is referred to as “complex disease”. According to Chinese medicine, the liver
opens at the eyes. Thus, as long as the liver is functioning normally, the eyes will be healthy as well.
This has nothing to do with blood sugar levels. Taking drugs or injecting insulin will damage the
liver and lead to such eye problems as glaucoma and retinal detachment. Many diabetics take
medicine as prescribed and end up with internal organ and eye problems. When the condition
worsens, their feet will ulcerate and they could even end up being amputated. Therefore, to cure
diabetes, one must not be misled by its name, but should instead identify the actual causes.
Diabetics should first be happy and self-assured, and learn to let go; and practice Paida and Lajin to
cleanse the Heart, Liver, Kidney, Spleen and Urinary Bladder Meridians. When the internal organs
are functioning properly, the blood sugar levels will naturally return to normal.
This is why in Classical Chinese Medicine, “regulating the heart” is the foremost, external
treatment measures are used primarily, and medicine is taken as the last resort. “Forget the
disease name” reminds us that there are many diseases behind one particularly labeled disease.
“All diseases are complex diseases”, i.e. a complex of many diseases. Diseases indicate the blockage
of many meridians, and their causes are also varied, hence, we should be cautious not to leave out
any, or be misled by particular disease names or indicators; instead, we should focus on holistic
health enhancement. We should try to cleanse all blocked meridians and not just one of them.
Therefore, Paida and Lajin should be practiced on all parts of the body in a “carpet bombing”
manner, so as to activate our internal “anti -virus software”, i.e. self-healing power, to clear away all
diseases in the body.
In view of this, everyone should learn up some common sense knowledge of Chinese medicine. For
instance, tinnitus, deafness, hair loss, backache, leg pain, declined sexual function, etc. are all
associated with the kidney; failing vision, floaters, cataracts, Jin-Suo (contraction of tendons), etc.
signal problems with the liver; in the same manner of deduction, if one gets too fat or too thin, the
problem is related to the spleen which governs our muscles.
Complex diseases
This term relates to “forget-the-disease-name” concept. People seldom have only a single disease;
there are always a number of other diseases behind a known one. Moreover, these diseases are
interrelated; they are the causes and effects of other diseases, and are thus called “complex
diseases”. In effect, all diseases are complex diseases.
All diseases with known names are so labelled according to identification and classification of
modern medicine based on known standards, using known measures. However, no matter how
accurate the diagnosis of Chinese medicine, Western medicine or medical appliances is, there are
still realms of the complex human body where their diagnosis and treatments are yet to cover
holistically. Thus, the key to curing a disease is not in knowing the name, but rather in locating the
root causes.
“Complex diseases” imply that there are still many unseen, undetected or undetectable pathological
changes. That is to say, behind a known illness, there could be many more known and unknown
ones, and the best way to tackle it is to have a thorough search, diagnosis and treatment in a
manner similar to “carpet bombing” in military operations. This will trigger the body’s internal
“precision bombing” to cleanse the meridians, similar to when an “anti-virus software” (i.e. the
body’s self-healing power) is activated. Thus, “carpet bombing” and “precision bombing” work
hand in hand to holistically cleanse meridians and expel toxic waste.
Out of the numerous practices of Chinese medicine, I have specially chosen Paida and Lajin to
promote worldwide not only because they are simple to practice and produce quick effects, but
also because they are universally applicable, i.e. when one practices Paida and Lajin, almost all
“complex diseases” are targeted and treated. This is because from diagnosis to treatment, Paida
and Lajin act holistically and not partially. People may find it quite a challenge to directly and
accurately locate meridians and acupoints — that is why many tend to give up on self-healing.
Paida and Lajin may appear simple, yet they are more effective on complex diseases compared to
mainstream medical practices. Many diseases that doctors find hard to treat are cured by ordinary
folks using these two unbelievably simple methods. Treating complex diseases with simple
methods is as people always put it, “The truest way (Tao) is the simplest.” This is indeed an
accurate and concrete interpretation of the “way (Tao)”.
On top of that, through self-diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases, people will gain fresh
insights into health and life. They will naturally go on to explore the lasting truths of Classical
Chinese Medicine (CCM), hence changing their lives through health improvement. They will move
from physical healing to spiritual healing, and from health management to life management.
Persistent Paida and Lajin makes people healthier, more joyous and at ease.
Unfortunately, some only pay attention to their health when they are seriously ill. They are very
concerned with maintenance and care of their cars and pets, but do not care much about
preservation of their own health. They are only interested in “overhauls” or treatment of critical
illnesses. Maybe this is the so-called “fate”.
“Carpet bombing” and “anti-virus software”
Huang Di Nei Jing states that all diseases are caused by blocked meridians, thus cleansing
meridians cures diseases.
However, when one gets sick, the primary concern could be to find out exactly which meridians
are blocked. Here, I will let you in on a big secret: There are 12 standard meridians in the body, and
together with the Ren and Du Meridians along the middle of the front and back torso, these 14
meridians, when blocked, become the root causes of all diseases. That is to say, from minute inflammations of mosquito bites to tumor growth, whether insomnia or constipation, all diseases occur due to one, often several, of these 14 meridians being blocked. Therefore, no matter what diseases one suffers from, cleansing these 14 meridians will invariably cure all of them. The four
general parts (elbows, hands, knees and feet) are specially chosen for Paida to clear the 14 said
meridians.
“Carpet bombing” is originally a military term, which means thorough bombing of each and every
inch of land. Using Paida and Lajin in a “carpet bombing” manner cleanses the body’s 14 meridians
from all directions. This eliminates all known and unknown diseases holistically, instead of
treating them according to divisions of medicine. Paida and Lajin act as both diagnosis and
treatment of diseases: Sha (toxic waste) appearing during Paida indicates that meridians
corresponding to the slapped areas are blocked, and the appearance of Sha means detoxification
has begun; in Lajin, the pain felt during stretching indicates body parts where Jin-Suo occurs, and
restoring flexibility of the Jin through further stretching will cure the diseases.
To enable people of the modern age familiar with computers to grasp the concept of “self-healing
power”, I’ll use the term “anti-virus software”. Our body has an innate “anti-virus software” as part
of our self-healing power, and its wisdom, sensitivity and sophistication go beyond human
comprehension and imagination. It runs in the body’s meridians in the form of invisible “Qi (vital
life energy)”. Once this “anti-virus software” is activated through Paida and/or Lajin, it will start to
scan the entire body. When Qi finds a blockage or a problem area, it will lock-in the target and clear
it, diseases or pain are thus alleviated or thoroughly cured. This process is as if launching missiles
in “precision bombing” and the “anti-virus software” is the devise that sets off this process.
The number of meridians cleansed through Paida and Lajin is not one but many; the effect is not
only localized but in all known and unknown systems of the body. The activated Qi and blood flow
will act as the “anti-virus software”; not only does it locate the “viruses”, it automatically stimulates
the body to produce antibodies against them. More specifically, this refers to the automatic
endocrine secretions of insulin, stem cells, enkephalin, adrenaline, etc., needed to fight different
diseases. Practicing Paida and Lajin is like an all-round mobilization of software and hardware
systems in the entire body, and that is why it is described as “carpet bombing” and “complete
virus removal”.
Of all Lajin positions, stretching in “reclining position” (see picture above) delivers the most
thorough effects: all the meridians are being cleared, though at varying
degrees .
Paida works by radiating out from specific points: Paida the hands and
elbows cleanses the six meridians along the arms and hands; Paida both knees and feet cleanses
the six meridians along the legs and feet; the Ren and Du Meridians are also cleansed at relevant
joints. Hands are holographic reflex zones of all the organs in the body ; hence, when the hands are
used for Paida, they are being slapped as well. This creates a new round of “carpet bombing”.
Not true, unless you're walking in very unsanitary conditions, such as stagnant water or some third-world country areas without plumbing.
In general, parasites that enter through the feet skin are rare and found only in the hottest places. Even there, as long as you're not walking barefoot or standing barefoot around in festering pools of water, there's little chance you'll pick something up, and it's extremely unlikely you'll pick up something that's life threatening ( you have a much higher chance of winning the lottery). However, please do not walk around a dog park without shoes. Common sense. There, we've said it.
The greater harm to your health is not getting out and exercising.
Last thought here : keep your tetanus immunization up to date. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is an infection characterized by muscle spasms. Boosters are given every ten years. If you can't remember when your last tetanus booster jab was given, check with your doctor. Although cuts when going barefoot are rare, particularly after your first few weeks, it's better to be safe than sorry here. And remember, if you've got a cut on your feet, do not go barefoot until it's healed.
Dirty Feet
If you don't want to get your feet dirty, then there is good news and bad news. First, the bad news: if you go barefoot walking, particularly in the city, your feet will get dirty. However, that dirt washes right off, particularly if you keep a wash basin/pail of water or wet wipes by your home entrance door.
So here's the good news. Your feet are likely cleaner going barefoot outside than they are in your shoes. Why? Because we almost never wash the insides of our shoes, and we sweat in them every day whenever we wear them.
Shoes are known to harbor thousands if not millions of molds, fungi, and disease-causing bacteria in and on them before we finally succumb and throw them out in favor of a new pair.
Good Morning America once tested 8 people's pairs of shoes as well as two dogs' paws and found the shoes carried the most bacteria, up to 66 million organism each. This compared to toilet seats, with only 1,000 organisms. And nine out of ten pairs of shoes contained coli-form bacteria from human or animal feces. They can also carry pesticides, toxic chemicals, and pollen. Yet we rarely (if ever) wash our shoes, because we don't want to ruin them. So instead we slip our clean feet into germ traps, sweaty shoes-environments devoid of oxygen that are just perfect for wee beasties to fester in and on. And we track them around the houses.
The rule in our house is this : whether we've washed our feet when we've entered the home or not, we must wash our feet again before we go to bed.
And there's even more good news. Research shows that microbes in the dirt (not those in our shoes) are actually good for us, and exposure to them contributes to a stronger immune system. More on this fascinating topic later.
Going Bare at the indoor Gym.
Something funny happened on the way to the fitness gym. People have gotten liability crazy. Out of concern that you may drop a weight on your foot ( which would break your foot in or out of a shoe), trip (something you're more likely to do in a shoe), or catch your foot on a contraption, gyms are wary about having you go barefoot.
"At my favorite gym I have to write my own waiver after a lengthy discussion with management about being able to use a treadmill barefoot. In the waiver, I stated they were not responsible if I hurt myself. I also had to promise that I would scrub down the belt afterward so it wasn't dirty for the other patrons (who oddly enough, would be in shoes that were never washed, even after walking in public bathrooms). Even then they were hesitant to let me use the treadmill barefooted."
Other strange oddities at gyms abound. There are fitness classes and even yoga classes (though this one is silly) where you have to at least wear socks, if not shoes, when working out. However, you're more likely to slip and fall, particularly in a pose, if you can't grab with your toes.
Working out barefoot at the gym is a great way to increase proprioception (your perception of movement and spatial orientation of your body and its parts). balance, strength, and overall health. However, if you find you just can't do it at your gym or the stares are too much, then simply get yourself the most minimal shoe you can. There are even toe sock, with rubber nubs for traction, designed specially for yoga classes.
Toe Shoe ⇧
Toe Socks ⇩
But wait, you say. What about the gym locker rooms? If our feet are cleaner out of a shoe, what about getting athlete's foot at the local gym? That occurs because people take their sweaty feet with festering foot fungus out of their shoes and then walk around barefoot in the locker room and showers.
In these environments, if your foot is going back into shoes, it's easy to pick up the fungus and spread it to your shoes. But if you're staying barefoot, the fungus can't survive in oxygen, so your bare-feet should be just fine. When in doubt, wipe your feet, especially in between your toes, with tea tree oil, organic raw apple cider vinegar, or raw honey. Flip-flops will serve you well here too.
Natural Grass Barefoot Wear ⇧
Absolutely wear shoes in public restroom, on the streets in third-world countries, and anywhere else you see or smell unsanitary conditions or feel uncomfortable.
