Chapter 3. Overview of E-Tao Self-Healing Methods

“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”. 

Alkaline water dangers: why you should not drink it

Alkaline water has been quite the buzz for many people. They are always wondering if the water can truly offer the stated health benefits or not. The manufacturers will at all times claim that their product is safe, but is it that safe? Any smart consumer would want to know not only about benefits of alkaline water, but also about its side effects. The best part is that nowadays people will post reviews about a new product stating the benefits and side effects to share their experience.

What is alkaline water?

Before getting into the whole idea that alkaline water is dangerous, we must understand what alkaline water really is. Alkaline water is commonly defined as a beverage that has a value greater than 7 on the pH scale. This means that the water is neither neutral nor acidic. Another name for alkaline water is ionized water.

The alkaline water is commonly characterized by having lots of electrons and a negative charge. The alkaline water is said to help in slowing down the aging process because of high electrone content. Whenever electrons are neutralized, the cell damage is reduced, which means that aging process is slowed down.

Where can a person buy alkaline water?

If you read about the benefits of alkaline water, the first instinct will be getting yourself a bottle or two of alkaline water. It is quite easy to lay your hands on alkaline water, as it is available in many stores around you. The other way would be converting your tap water to alkaline water. To do this, you need an alkaline water machine that does the conversion.

The possible negatives, risks and dangers of drinking alkaline water.

Having a balanced pH is crucial to your health

The pH of the body is measured in terms of the hydrogen ion concentration. If your body has a high number of hydrogen ions, then the body pH is said to be lower or acidic. Well, having a balanced pH is the core biochemical process and it’s extremely crucial that your body maintains an ideal or near ideal pH at all times.

What makes body pH so important after all? 

Well, if you’ve had the chance to study Chemistry in high school, you’d definitely know the answer to this question. But still, here is the answer for you. Our bodies are made of countless cells and cells have endless biochemical processes going on. These chemical processes are completed successfully by means of body enzymes. But, here is a catch! Body enzymes need a very precise pH to work properly. If the pH is more or less than the required pH, the enzymes will not work and the resultant biochemical processes will shut down as well! To be honest, a deranged body pH is a catastrophic condition and should be immediately treated because it can cause almost irreversible damage to body organs, such as kidneys, heart and brain.

Alkaline water, as the name suggests, tends to make your body alkaline. It’s true the body pH at several places, like blood, is slightly alkaline. So, drinking alkaline water once in a while may actually help strengthen these body systems. But, consuming it regularly is what you need to be very careful about. When you drink alkaline water too often, you’re actually overloading your body with a lot of alkali that your body doesn’t even need. This way, you’re increasing your body pH without any good reason and forcing the shutdown of different biochemical processes (1).

Alkaline water has nothing to do with cancer

The common selling point of alkaline water is that it can help in curing cancer and even prevent cancer. Keeping the body in the alkaline state for a long time has its side effects. Most people will end up having problems with their digestive systems and nutritional deficiencies. The nutritional deficiency will then result in having a weakened immune system.

The excessive alkaline water in the body will also result in overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and fungus. This may keep the immune system down for a long time. If the immune system is not rejuvenated it is very difficult to heal and/or prevent cancer.

Till date, there is no solid scientific which proof that using alkaline water can help, in any way, with any kind of cancer. In fact, the result of different clinical studies have proved just opposite - alkaline water has no benefit in treating or reversing cancer symptoms. In fact, till date, there is no human clinical trial that could support this idea.

Since there is no human evidence, we’ll have to stick to animal data. Even the results of data collected from animals have shown that use of alkaline water gives no benefit in treating cancer. Results of a clinical study conducted on rats showed that use of alkaline water didn’t affect the abnormal proliferation of cancer cells and had no effect on cancer burden.

Till we get more data, it can be safely stated that use of alkaline water has no benefit in treating cancer. In fact, using it may actually worsen the immune system.

Worsened nutrition deficiencies

Like your body enzymes, the function of gut depends on body pH as well. Gut performs a wide array of functions ranging from digestion to nutrient absorption. Take vitamin B12 for example. It binds to a protein from a saliva and passes to the stomach. In the stomach, due to stomach’s acidic pH, B12 leaves that protein and binds with another agent called the intrinsic factor. This process is extremely critical from the absorption of B12 because the intestine only recognizes intrinsic factor and absorbs only that B12 that is bound to intrinsic factor. That’s why, people using stomach acid decreasing medicines and having undergone gastric bypass, which decreases the level of stomach pH, can’t properly absorb vitamin B12.

Now, imagine you drinking alkaline water daily. It will definitely make the stomach pH more alkaline and will not let it perform its necessary steps in B12 absorption. And that’s only one nutrient. Relying heavily on alkaline water can significantly alter the absorption of a bunch of other nutrients like iron, calcium, folate and so on.

In fact, results of animal studies have proved that use of alkaline water can cause significant growth retardation due to poor nutrient absorption from the gut (2).

Alkaline water cannot be used with medication

According to research, close to 90% of Americans do depend on using over-the-counter medications for a condition of two. The worst part would be using the alkaline water to take medications. The alkaline water is highly reactive with most medications. The reaction between alkaline water and the medication can lead to the formation of dangerous by-products that are harmful to your health. It can be said that alkaline water is just ideal for those people who are completely healthy, which means that it is ideal for nobody as nobody is 100% healthy.

Again, the activation and absorption of drugs from the gut is dependent on ideal gut pH. If you’re messing up your gut pH, you’re more likely to make drugs ineffective too.

Alkaline promoting drugs are not effective in the longer run

The alkaline tablets are just the solid forms of alkaline water. The drugs are commonly used in the treatment of reflux problems. The idea is to have the drugs reduce the level of acidity in the stomach. The drugs are known to only work for a short time, but will not cure the stomach reflux problems. You need proper medication to eliminate such problems.

The alkaline water is sold by the multi-level marketers

Whenever a new health product or any other product, the multi-level marketers are likely to take it up and advertise it to anyone. The problem is that these marketers do not understand the effects of the product; their only objective is to sell it and gain the commissions. Those people that are gullible enough to believe them, they are likely to buy the product. Since many multi-level marketers are in the business of selling the alkaline water, people have started to doubt the information the marketers offer. You might even find the alkaline water being sold at very much discounted prices, which makes it even a bit more suspicious.

Common side effects associated with drinking alkaline water

Of course, you are likely to read about the many benefits of alkalinized water, but the disadvantages do outweigh the benefits. Not many people would be comfortable taking something that is likely to have a negative impact on their health rather than offering benefits. Here are some of the common side effects that a person drinking alkaline water is likely to face.

Digestion malfunctions

The common phrase the sellers would tell you is that the alkaline water helps in digestion to keep you healthy at all times. However, it is not true, as it actually hinders the normal digestion process. This is due to steep changes in pH levels. People who are over 60 years should not drink alkaline water as the digestion side effects are severe.

The digestion malfunctions are likely to lead to conditions such as hypochlorhydria. This is a sickness caused by calcium malabsorption, which gets worse with the continuous use of the alkaline water.

In fact, there is a well characterized syndrome due to the excessive alkalization of stomach. It is called milk alkali syndrome. In this syndrome, when the stomach acid is decreased a bit too much, the absorption of calcium gets compromised to dangerous levels. Decreased calcium levels can be dangerous because a normal calcium level is needed for proper brain, gut and muscle function (3).

Cardiovascular problems

The alkaline water was used on rats and the tests recorded. It was observed that the alkaline water had some severe and permanent side effects on the cardiovascular system of the rats. The same can be applied to humans who almost have the same composition. Your cardiovascular cells might be rejuvenated at first, but they will die when there is a continuous exposure to alkaline water.

The alkaline water can still lead to increased number of enzymes in the cardiovascular system. Many enzymes are likely to damage the muscles around the heart and other important parts of the cardiovascular system.

Metabolic abnormalities

Metabolism is an important process that must not be interfered with at any time. You need metabolism to get the necessary energy to stay healthy and do many other activities. The metabolism has to be regulated so as you get just enough energy whenever needed. The alkaline water is seen to cause metabolism abnormalities in a person. Such abnormalities can lead to diseases, such as metabolic alkalosis, which commonly causes discomfort in a person.

The other common side effects of alkaline water include conditions such as edema, mental confusion, and hypertension. No one would want to suffer from these conditions as they are frequently associated with severe complications.

The side effects of the alkaline water are likely to be more prevalent and severe if the water is not from the natural sources. The artificially alkalinized water has many chemicals added to make it more alkaline. It is best to use natural water as it will not have any additional harmful chemicals. Some of the side effects are not mentioned here, as sometimes the alkaline water will affect people differently based on their body composition.

Puts extra burden on kidneys

Kidneys are body’s major excretory structures. Another important function of kidneys is to keep your body pH within normal range. For instance, when the body pH increases- becomes more alkaline- the kidneys come into action and start to excrete more bicarbonate ions into the urine. That’s how kidneys function to keep the body pH close to ideal.

When you drink alkaline water, you’re actually making your body systems more alkaline and increasing the concentration of bicarbonate ions. At first, kidneys take on this problem and can keep the body pH normal by eliminating bicarbonate ions from body. But, once you start to rely heavily on such water, even kidneys fail to excrete all of the bicarbonate ions and this leads to metabolic alkalosis. When the body gets into alkalosis, kidneys start to function more than normal.

That’s a bad new for all, especially for those who are already suffering from some sort of kidney disease because this will further worsen the kidney damage. If you’re suffering from kidney disease, use of alkaline water is a BIG NO for you!

It can actually make you dehydrated

Using too much alkaline water can actually dehydrate your body quickly instead of hydrating it. When a lot of unnecessary ions make way to your gut, they actually squeeze out more water from it (Basic Chemistry Knowledge!). In fact, drinking too much alkaline water can dehydrate you at the cellular levels.

Types of alkaline water processing

If you are still yet to be convinced that the alkaline water is dangerous, wait until you go through the different types of alkaline water processing methods.

Free-standing electrical home method

These are the common units used by many people to make the alkaline water at home. The common brands include the Kaagen, i-Water, and many others. The water will pass through a carbon filter that removes the toxins and improve the taste. The problem arises when the filter becomes clogged and not removed. It will become the breeding ground for bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The water is finally passed over an electrified platinum-covered titanium plates. The process is meant to alkalinize the water. The platinum added to the water is toxic and harmful to the human health.

It is argued that this method will likely increase the chances of getting the Yin disease. Keep yourself away from the alkaline water to avoid such disease occurrence.

Water store alkaline water

You might be surprised what your water store is doing to get the best-selling alkaline water. The fresh water undergoes the process of reverse osmosis to form the alkaline water. In most cases, the also involves the addition of calcium powder or solution. Too much calcium in the body will of course have its own problems. The dominating problem is that you are likely to face the Yin disease again (4).

The process of reverse osmosis will not help the body hydrate at all. You are not to use such water for daily drinking.

The calcium used in this process is made from the coral calcium, which may contain some toxic metals. The water is likely to take up the toxic metals easily when the process of reverse osmosis is used. These toxic metals have been seen to affect the body cells and kidneys. Soon or later, you start to develop complications related to kidney failure.

Alkastream alkaline water unit

It is a different machine that is non-electric. The unit can be used under the sink being linked to the mains water supply. The unit will add magnesium compound into the water to alkalinize it. The process is meant to help in avoiding the expensive and dangerous platinum plates. However, the end product is still the same harmful alkaline water. The magnesium compound will ruin the poor quality water tap making it to cause complications in humans. You have to avoid this method as well.

Should I drink alkaline water?

If you want an unbiased opinion, the answer is NO. Reason being the side effects are way more than the good things about alkaline water. Drinking such water once in a while may help you with indigestion, but there is nothing more to it than this. It can’t miraculously cure any sort of cancer. Or it is not a magic elixir that is going to make all your health problems go away overnight. What makes the use of alkaline water even more question is lack of any scientific proof for its health benefits. 

If alkaline water is as healthy as the manufacturers claim it to be then why is there an absolute lack of clinical studies that can support this claim?

The alkaline water is likely to come with many health promises than many other health products. You should not be cheated to try alkaline water to deal with your issues. Some people are seen to take alkaline water to treat headaches or fatigue. Some of these conditions are caused by your lifestyle, and they can be eliminated with the choice of a good lifestyle.

You might be tempted to take the alkaline water in order to treat cancer or may be cardiovascular problems as stated by the marketers. The doctors can offer you the best medication that will deal with your condition. The use of alkaline water just makes things worse for the patient. For the heart issues, it is all about the diet changes you have to make. All is needed is to eat healthy each day and exercise more to have a healthy cardiovascular system.

Conclusion

As much as the alkaline water might seem the solution to problems such as Acidosis, the outcome is not always what you expect. The logical explanation to why doctors are yet to approve the use of the alkaline water is because of the likely side effects that people get. Most of the documented researches show that the tests were only carried on dogs and plants. 

How do you even translate the results of plants to be used on humans? So far, there has been no extensive research on the benefits that the alkaline water can do for the humans.

By now you know that the use of alkaline water is not the solution to your health problems. It is time to follow the recommended methods in order to live a healthy life. Consult a nutritionist who can help in coming up with an impressive diet plan for you to use. 

Notes:
(1) Scientific Research Studies on Ionized Alkaline Water
Physiological effects of alkaline ionized water: Effects on metabolites produced by intestinal fermentation... http://www.ionza.co.nz/content/Intestinal-fermentation-Alkaline_Water.pdf

Notes (2): Vitamin B12 ...Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin). The last vitamin that belongs the family of B vitamins is vitamin B12. It is also known by some other names like cobalamin, cynocobalamin, hydroxycobalmine- depending on the type of substance attached to the central structure. The properties of this vitamin are discussed as follows.

Food sources

The food sources of this vitamin include:

Vitamin B12 is unique in a respect that the colonic bacteria can synthesize this vitamin.
Animal meat and meat products are an important source. These sources include eggs, meat, milk, milk products and liver.
Sea foods are also important food source.
Vitamin B12 is not present in plants. That’s why the deficiency of this vitamin usually occurs in individuals that solely depend on plants as a source of their food.
Functions

Following are the functions performed by vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 plays a very important role in the cellular metabolism of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
It is also critical in the production of red bone marrow.
It also helps in the production of nerve sheaths and nerve proteins.
It also functions as a co-enzyme in the metabolism of methionine. Elevation of methionine is a marker for heart disease.
Side effects

It has very low chances of toxicity in healthy individuals. It can, however, trigger hematological abnormalities. It can cause weakening of vision. It can cause gastric distress, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It can also trigger skin allergies and skin reactions.

Recommended intake

The recommended intake of vitamin B12 (RDA - mcg/day) is as follows:

Infants 0-6 months: 0.4 mcg
Infants 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg
Children 1-3: 0.9 mcg
Children 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg
Children 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg
Older children and adults: 2.4 mcg
Pregnant women: 2.6 mcg
Breast-feeding women: 2.8 mcg

Notes (3) ...characterized syndrome due to the excessive alkalization of stomach...Systemic and local effects of long-term exposure to alkaline drinking water in rats . ...https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2517712/ 

Milk-Alkali Syndrome...Background:Milk-alkali syndrome is caused by the ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali, with resulting hypercalcemia. If unrecognized and untreated, milk-alkali syndrome can lead to metastatic calcification and renal failure. ...http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/123324-overview

Notes (4) Yin disease is a term to describe a constellation of symptoms that often appear together and are related to an excessively yin condition of the body.  This condition is very common today and is therefore worth discussing.  It is not recognized as a medical diagnosis at this time, unfortunately. 

 

HOW THE BODY STAYS YANG IN THE FACE OF STRESS AND TRAUMA ... http://drlwilson.com/articles/YIN%20DISEASE.htm

Chapter 10 BALANCING HORMONE LEVELS IN THE BODY

Chapter 10

BALANCING HORMONE LEVELS IN THE BODY

In a perfect world, there would be no need to address this aspect of health at all, but the world we live in is far from perfect. Again, diet, stress, and environmental factors are constantly working
to throw our bodies out of balance. Specifically, we need to address the following problem areas.

> Due to exposure to chemical estrogens omnipresent in our food, water, and air, the vast majority of men and women already suffer the effects of estrogen dominance by the time they are in their early 30s.

> Again due to diet and lifestyle, most men and women find that their testosterone has become "unavailable" by the time they are in their early 30s. For men, that problem is compounded by the fact that what testosterone they do have is being converted into
dihydrotestosterone, which leads to prostate enlargement and cancer.

   For years, I have been leery of recommending the use of formulas that modify the body's hormonal balance, and certainly the misuse of hormone altering formulas by athletes and medical doctors in the last decade has not helped change that point of view.

  Nevertheless, once you throw out all of the preconceptions and look at the issue objectively (and look at the real results—short and long term), the case for selectively altering your hormonal balance becomes compelling—with a few caveats:

> Only selected hormones should be "adjusted" without a doctor's guidance.

> Use only natural hormones (or hormones that are chemically identical to the natural hormone)

  Note: hormones are produced from many different sources. Some are derived from animals; some from plants; some are created in laboratories; and some are created through changing the DNA of bacteria or single-celled plants so that they produce the desired hormone. As it turns out, for hormones, the source is not the
real question. The real question is: Is the hormone a perfect match for the hormone in our bodies? As we will soon see for estrogen and progesterone, things are not always what they seem.

>  Use only therapeutic or homeopathic doses. Never, ever use pharmacological doses[1]without a doctor's guidance.

    Estrogen and Progesterone

   Vital Information for Women (and Men)


  Every woman between the ages of 13 and 117 needs to seriously consider supplementation with a natural progesterone creme.

  Why? Because virtually every woman who lives in an industrialized country (the United States, in particular) is at high risk of estrogen dominance because of exposure to xenoestrogens.
Xenoestrogens, which are mostly petroleum-based synthetic estrogens, are now present in massive amounts in our food chain, water supply, and environment.

  At one time, our diets afforded some protection. Fruits and grains and vegetables (in their natural state) provide low-action phytoestrogens for the body. These low-action estrogens fill the
body's estrogen receptor sites—making them unavailable for use by the more potent estrogens—both natural and synthetic. Unfortunately, today's diets are dominated by processed foods,
which are stripped of these beneficial phytoestrogens. The net result is that virtually all of the body's receptor sites are ready and waiting for the far more intense estrogens.

  Some high-potency estrogens (such as estrone and estradiol) are produced by the body itself. But far and away, the greatest problem comes from the powerful and destructive petrochemicalbased
xenoestrogens. Not only are these xenoestrogens omnipresent, they are considerably more potent than estrogen made by the ovaries—some even potent in amounts as small as a billionth of a gram.

  Before we proceed, it is important to understand what role estrogen plays in the body. In addition to promoting the growth of female characteristics at puberty, the estrogen hormones also
promote cell growth. It is the estrogens, for example, that stimulate the buildup of tissue and blood in the uterus at the start of the menstrual cycle. The problem comes when high levels of ...

[1 Therapeutic doses mimic the amount of hormone your body normally produces. Pharmacological (or medicinal

doses) are substantially higher than therapeutic doses—and are often accompanied by significant side effects.]

...estrogen (natural and synthetic) are unopposed by sufficient amounts of natural progesterone, which leads to continuous, unrestrained cell stimulation. Problems that can occur include:

Excess estrogen is the only known cause of endometrial cancer

Increased risk of breast cancer.

Loss of bone mass.

Increased risk of autoimmune disorders such as lupus.

Fibrocystic breasts.

Fibroid tumors.

Depression and irritability.

PMS symptoms such as cramping and bloating—in addition to depression and irritability.

Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats—again, in addition to depression and irritability.

Decreased sex drive.

Increased body hair and thinning of scalp hair.

Migraine headaches.

Impaired thyroid function, including Grave's disease.

Increased body fat.

Increased blood clotting.

Impaired blood sugar control.

The astounding acceleration of puberty in young girls from an average age of 14 to 15, to now as young as 9 or 10.[1] (This represents a speed up of as much as 1/3 sooner in their lives and has frightening implications for long-term health.)

And, finally, xenoestrogens have been strongly implicated in declining male sperm production and the increase in the rates of testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

[1 Recent reports indicate that as many as 1% of all girls now show signs of breast development and pubic hair before the age of 3!]

    What's the Answer?

   Once we understand the problem, it is easy to see that for the vast majority of women, hormone replacement therapy with conjugated estrogens such as Premarin® is not the answer. It very well may be a major contributor to the problem.

   Most people are not aware that Premarin® is actually derived from horse urine. Hence the name: Pregnant mare urine. This is not a problem in itself,but it does lead to three significant problems.

 1. First, and most important: there is no estriol in Premarin®, only estrone and estradiol. Why is this so significant? Because research has shown that the average ratio of serum estrogen in the female body is 90% estriol, 7% estradiol, and 3% estrone. This takes on particular importance when one notes that both estrone and estradiol are pro-carcinogenic, whereas estriol is anti-carcinogenic.
So why in the word would you want to use an estrogen supplement that has only the pro-carcinogenic estrogens, and not one single drop of the anticarcinogenic estrogen that normally represents 90% of the body's total? The bottom line is that in those cases where estrogen supplementation is warranted, demand either "true triple estrogen" from your doctor (and insist that it be in a ratio similar to the 90-7-3 shown above) or use pure estriol.

 2. Second, there are over a dozen different estrogens in Premarin®. As you may remember from our earlier discussion of estrogen, there are only three estrogens in the human body: estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Only two of those are present in Premarin®: estrone and estradiol. That means that there are a whole bunch of estrogens in Premarin® that have nothing to do with the human body. They are specifically designed for horses. (Keep in mind that the Latin word for horse is equs, from which comes equestrian.) Some of these include equilin, 17 alpha-dihydroequilin, and equilenin.) Another way of looking at it is that those "extra" estrogens are specifically designed to make you gallop and
whinny.

3. Third, the process of producing Premarin® is inherently cruel. The mares are kept in tiny pens to eliminate movement. They are kept constantly pregnant. And they are kept constantly catheterized. The process is so stressful that the average life expectancy of these animals is less than half that of a normal horse. And of course the foals are not needed, so they are destroyed.

   You really have to wonder why more doctors don't ask, "If estrogen dominance got you there in the first place, then why in the world would you want to be adding a powerful estrogen complex
made from horse urine to your body?" Of course you wouldn't. And yet, conjugated estrogen is the most frequently prescribed drug in America. Consider the following scenario—one that millions
of women have already lived through.

   One day you notice minor symptoms such as a sudden gain in weight or a disruption in sleep patterns or a decreased sex drive. You go for a check-up and receive a prescription for estrogen. As instructed, you take your daily dose of horse urine, but the symptoms get steadily worse. You're told to increase your dosage. Which you do. But the symptoms continue to get worse, and over time become alarming, since they now include problems such as irregular cycles, heavy clotting, or excessive bleeding. An examination of your uterus reveals significant abnormality. You are told your uterus is precancerous.Your hysterectomy is scheduled; your uterus is removed.

  This is absolutely and totally unacceptable. Every woman should be furious!

  The only natural balancer to excessive estrogen in the body is natural progesterone—not more estrogen. This has been clearly detailed in books such as What Your Doctor May Not Tell
You About Menopause, by Dr. John R. Lee. Natural progesterone is the only known substance that mitigates virtually all of the problems associated with estrogen dominance, and with virtually
no side effects of its own.

  But what about the synthetic "progesterones" (such as Provera) that your doctor recommends? Progesterone is a natural substance, and as such cannot be patented. The pharmaceutical companies, therefore, have to modify it slightly. They literally create a new molecule, called medroxyprogesterone—that does not exist in nature—in order to take out a patent. This "slightly" modified artificial progesterone is what most doctors prescribe. What effect does slight modification have?

   Consider the fact that the testosterone molecule and the estrone molecule are virtually identical—except for the fact that the positions of the oxygen atom and the OH atoms change places.
This slight "modification," however, happens to be enough so that one hormone makes men...and the other women. 







1. testosterone common structural formula
2. estrone common structural formula

Even closer is the similarity between DHEA and estrone. The molecules are actually identical except for the location of some of the double bonds between carbon atoms. You cannot get closer. And yet the function of DHEA and estrone could not be more different.



And now look at the difference between natural progesterone and Provera







The bottom line is that Provera is not natural. It's a synthetic form of progesterone that carries a whole range of serious side effects. A small sampling of these side effects, as listed in the Physician's
Desk Reference, includes:

Depression

Birth defects

Increased body hair

Acne

Risk of embolism

Decreased glucose tolerance

Allergic reactions

   Now, in exchange for these significant side effects, Provera does offer some protection against endometrial cancer and a very modest increase in bone formation.

     Natural Progesterone

    On the other hand, supplementation with natural progesterone has no known side effects. It is best utilized by the body when administered transdermally with a skin cream that contains approximately 500 milligrams per ounce of natural progesterone and offers the following potential health benefits.

     According to Dr. John R. Lee, the author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, natural progesterone may significantly improve bone formation—by as much as 15%-35%. (Understand, this is unique to natural progesterone.
Estrogen supplementation does not increase bone formation; it merely slows the rate of loss for a 5-year period around the time of menopause. And man-made progestin only mildly increases bone formation. If you are worried about osteoporosis, there is only one substance known that significantly improves bone formation—and that's natural progesterone.)

   Increased progesterone levels in the body may help to protect against endometrial cancer.

They may also help protect against breast cancer In addition, supplementation with natural progesterone can help relieve symptoms of PMS

Relieve symptoms of menopause

Normalize libido

Improve the body-fat profile

Improve sleep patterns

And help relieve migraine headaches


   The bottom line is that every woman living in the industrialized world should seriously consider supplementation with natural progesterone.

   If you decide to begin a regimen of natural progesterone supplementation, look for a premium quality balancing cream that contains a minimum of 500 milligrams per ounce (the amount recommended by Dr. Lee) of 100% pure, USP grade progesterone, naturally derived from soybeans. Look for a natural vegetarian formula that uses no artificial or synthetically derived fragrances,
parabens or preservatives. Look for a formula that uses all natural oils and an enhanced liposome delivery system to help move the progesterone through the skin. And finally, look for a formula
that uses only full-profile organic wild yam.

  Whether you're still going through your menstrual cycles (or whether you're pre-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal), you need to seriously consider supplementation. The benefits
are extraordinary; the risks virtually non-existent. And the risks of not supplementing potentially include an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and osteoporosis—to reiterate just
a few.

   And as for Men
   As we've already mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, men too are exposed to the effects of xenoestrogens. In addition, as their testosterone levels drop with age (see next section), there is, in many cases, a concomitant rise in estradiol levels—the major reason that many older men develop breasts.

   Just as with women, estradiol stimulates cell growth[1]
 in men too and is potentially cancerous.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED INCIDENCE OF PROSTATE CANCER. In other words, any man over 30 years old would be well advised to supplement with a natural progesterone cream.

          Testosterone
    A growing body of evidence suggests that testosterone levels drop as much as 40% in men between their early 40s and early 70s. And for 10 to 15 percent of all men, those levels will dip below
normal even as early as their 30s if there is stress, depression, personal life changes or medications. This in turn causes a decrease, not only in sexual desire and performance, but in the
competitive drive to succeed and accomplish in life. In women, excessive estrogen in the body causes a reduction in testosterone levels, which leads to a similar decline in sexual desire and performance and a similar reduction in "life drive."

[1 Estradiol stimulates the BCL2 gene, which is the gene responsible for stopping cell death. What at first glance sounds like a positive, is, upon closer inspection, not. When cell death in prostate tissue, for example, is blocked, cell growth continues unabated, becoming a major contributing factor in the enlargement of the prostate and the development of prostate cancer.]

       Wild Oats and Nettles

    As we've just discussed, available testosterone levels tend to diminish with age. Adequate testosterone levels are essential in sexual functioning and "life drive" for both sexes. Women, for example, with high testosterone levels have more sex, increased libido, more orgasms, and tighter bonds with their mates.

   Interestingly enough, in a 1986 clinical study, it was documented that it's not actual testosterone production that decreases as people age. What happens is that it's the amount of free circulating
testosterone that decreases—as more and more of it gets bound to albumin and becomes unavailable for the body's use. These changes appear to begin by middle age and happen through a

natural chemical process called "sex-hormone-binding-globulin" or "SHBG".



  The problem is that bound testosterone is not nearly as effective as free testosterone in stimulating the sex and "life drive" centers in the brain. Avena sativa (green oats) and urtica dioica (nettles) easily travel throughout the body and free up testosterone---thus increasing desire. In studies, these two herbs increased free testosterone levels an astounding 105% on average!

  Green oats and nettles work naturally with the body to enhance sexual desire, sensation, and performance in both men and women. The effect on human sexual appetite is powerful. Both men and women can feel a boost in sexual desire—sometimes after only a few hours. Both men and women experience an increase in frequency of orgasms while taking wild oats and nettles, while
many women experience a dramatic 68% increase in multiple orgasms. Men also reported multiple orgasms while taking the wild oats and nettles combination.

   Green oats and wild nettles also work naturally to enhance the "life drive," that competitive drive in both men and women to succeed and accomplish in life.

     Human Growth Hormone

Why HGH?

  The rejuvenating powers of Growth Hormone are no secret to the wealthy. Unfortunately, for the last 30 years, GH has been available only from doctors, required two injections a day, and cost
approximately a thousand dollars a month. Recently, however, several alternatives for the rest of us have become available. And while I could never recommend the injections (for a variety of reasons),I can endorse the alternatives.

  Many claims are made for the effects of Growth Hormone—some bordering on claims of "almost" immortality and "almost" eternal youth. Would that it were so! Although the effects are more subtle, for most people, than pronounced, they are nevertheless wide ranging, and include things such as: 

14.4% loss of fat on average after six
months without dieting

 Elimination of cellulite

 Higher energy levels

Enhanced sexual performance

Regrowth of heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, and other organs that shrink with age

Greater cardiac output

Superior immune function

Increased exercise performance

Better kidney function

Lowered blood pressure

Improved cholesterol profile, with higher

HDL, and lower LDL

Stronger bones

Faster wound healing

Younger, tighter, thicker skin


Hair regrowth

    Which HGH?

   First of all, you can no longer actually buy true Human Growth Hormone. Technically, only actual growth hormone taken from human beings can be called Human Growth Hormone. And in
fact, 30 years ago, that was the sole source of Growth Hormone—human cadavers, that is. But that was abandoned when it turned out that growth hormone taken from people had a major downside (in addition to cost)—and that was that it occasionally caused the human equivalent of mad cow disease. Not good, as they say.

  Fortunately, at around the same time it was determined that true Human Growth Hormone was not an acceptable alternative, recombinant DNA technology came into its own. The bottom
line is that scientists learned how to alter the DNA of a single-cell yeast plant so that it would produce large amounts of Growth Hormone (molecularly, absolutely identical to real Human Growth
Hormone) safely and inexpensively. Because this growth hormone is identical to HGH, people often use the terms Growth Hormone and Human Growth Hormone interchangeably. Technically,
however, it should be referred to as a plant-based Growth Hormone and not Human Growth Hormone. Many companies deliberately try and cross this line.

 Anyway, given that there now existed a good, inexpensive source of Growth Hormone, another problem remained. It turns out that the Growth Hormone molecule is so large (containing 191
amino acids) that it could not be absorbed orally. That meant it could only be administered by injection. This, of course, required a doctor and was very expensive—costing between $1,000 and
$1,800 a month.[1]

  The only alternatives to this for years have been the amino acid-based precursor formulas (also called secretagogues). Although not as powerful as HGH injections, these formulas can be quite effective (provided your pituitary is still functioning well) and carry none of the downside of the injections.

[1 Because of the cost involved, growth hormone injections became known as the secret youth formula of movie stars and the very rich.] 

  Within the last two years, two alternatives have appeared on the market that actually use real Growth Hormone (the plant-based variety). One is homeopathic GH. This makes use of real GH,
diluted down to homeopathic levels. The jury is still out on homeopathic HGH, but the early indications are that it works at least as well as the secretagogues.

   And recently, a new form of GH that can be absorbed orally has been introduced. This again works as well as a secretogogue for most people. Its advantage is that this version will work for
those few whose pituitaries are dead and no longer capable of producing HGH, whereas a secreatogogue will not. Its downside is cost, as it is the most expensive of the alternatives (but still far
less costly than the injections).

  Let me digress for a moment and explain exactly how GH works. First of all, as we detailed in our discussion of progesterone, it is important to understand that hormones are the body's chemical
messenger system. They tell the body what to do and when. Adrenaline, for example, is produced in the adrenal glands, but serves to tell the heart to speed up and the blood vessels to
narrow in times of stress. HGH, on the other hand is produced in the pituitary gland. It is released in a series of 9-24 microscopic "pulses" throughout the day (mostly in the evening), and it signals
a number of body functions relative to aging and the production of other hormones such as DHEA and Melatonin and various parts of the endocrine system, including the hypothalamus (considered to be the master gland). Interestingly enough, the release of GH at "pulse" levels stimulates the pituitary to produce even more GH. However, it's most important function is telling the liver to produce Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1). That's the main key to anti-aging. Specifically, the benefits of HGH can be measured in terms of how much it increases the body's production of IGF-1.[1]
 Any number above 20% starts to be significant in terms of effectiveness for anti-aging.

  Most of the formulas on the market will increase IGF-1 levels by a minimum of 20%—some even approaching 100%.[2]
 Keep in mind, however, that one 30 minute aerobic session can easily increase IGF-1 levels by a good 100%, and a solid session of weight training can increase levels by an incredible 400-800%.

          DHEA

   In animal studies, DHEA supplementation bordered on the miraculous. It seemed to:

[1 There is some concern that HGH (because it increases IGF-1 levels in the body) may increase the risk of prostate cancer. This is based on three observations: a couple of in vitro studies that showed IGF-1 may stimulate tumor cell growth, a study out of the Harvard School of Public Health that equated high levels of IGF-1 with increased
risk of prostate cancer, and the fact that "giants" (who are, in fact, giants because of abnormally high HGH levels)
have a higher risk of cancer. A simple reality check, however, calls these observations into question. First, the reality
is that both HGH and IGF-1 levels decline as we age. The incidence of prostate cancer, on the other hand, increases
as these levels decline—the exact opposite of the expressed concern. In addition, in numerous studies with
thousands and thousands of patients receiving large amounts of HGH supplementation through injection over many
years, there was no observed increase in prostate cancer. In fact, based on real-life observation, there is evidence to
the contrary, that HGH supplementation may actually reduce the risk of prostate cancer.]

[2 Injections, which work directly on the liver (almost like a massive "pulse," can increase IGF-1 production by 20-40%. (A downside to injections, in addition to cost, is that they can give too much GH to the body, shock the body, and can stop the pituitary from producing its own GH. This may explain why injectable GH produces more immediate results, yet ultimately results in a plateau.)]

>Extend life by 50% 

>Protect against heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, obesity, and diabetes 

>Boost the immune system 

>Reverse the effects of stress 

  The reality turned out to be somewhat less. 

  I am not a big fan of DHEA supplementation (at least without a blood workup) for several reasons. First of all, the oral DHEA commonly used[1]  is composed of particles that are too big to be directly used by the body; therefore, it has to be sent to the liver to be broken down. Unfortunately, since the liver is unaccustomed to receiving DHEA in this form, it ends up converting most of it into androgens (sex hormones). It is these androgens that can cause the growth of facial hair in women and may contribute to prostate disorders in men.2 The second problem with standard oral DHEA supplementation is that there is strong evidence it reduces the body's own production of DHEA. And finally, DHEA supplementation (usually in doses greater than 10 mg a day) is often accompanied by side effects that include: 

>Acne and excessive oiliness 

>Growth of face and body hair in women 

>Irritability or mood changes 

>Over-stimulation and insomnia                                                                    
7-Keto 
  As we mentioned earlier, the oral DHEA commonly available is composed of particles that are too big to be directly used; therefore, it is sent to the liver, which ends up converting most of it into androgens. What's left is converted into 7-Keto DHEA, the useful portion. Well, now a new form of DHEA is available, 7-Keto DHEA. It seems that 7-Keto may provide most of the benefits of regular DHEA, but since it can't be converted to active androgens (e.g., testosterone and estrogen), it should prove to be much safer and have minimal side effects. 

  The only downside is that 7-Keto is brand new and there have been no substantial clinicals to support it. All in all though, if you're looking to supplement with DHEA, 7-Keto probably makes the most sense. 

[1 The DHEA commonly available as a supplement is not the same as that used in studies.]

[2 There has been a lot of debate as to whether DHEA contributes to prostate problems or not. I think that, as with HGH, once you step back, you see that most of the debate makes no sense. The argument is that since DHEA can be converted into testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, hormones that are believed to stimulate prostate tissue, it has also been proposed that DHEA is counterproductive in those who have prostate gland enlargement or prostate tumors. But actual experience does not support that conclusion. The only case I have heard of that showed a definite link was one in which the patient was receiving doses of DHEA that reached 700 mg a day. That's many many times the 2-50 mg a day dose that makes any sense. There is evidence that at low dosage levels DHEA works to block androgen receptor sites in the body—making them unavailable to the more potent androgens—thus serving to protect your prostate.]

Note: Many people use supplements containing Mexican Wild Yam (Discorea villosa) as a DHEA supplement. The theory is that Wild Yam contains diosgenin, a DHEA precursor, that your body uses to produce its own DHEA. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that, in fact, your body converts any Wild Yam into DHEA. All benefits related to Wild Yam appear to be from its phytoestrogen effect.

          Pregnenolone

  Pregnenolone is the ultimate hormone precursor. Virtually every hormone in the body can be produced by your body, as required, from pregnenolone. Again, as with all of the other hormones
that we've talked about in this chapter, pregnenolone levels decline precipitously as you get older.

  The prime benefit of pregnenolone is that it helps balance out your other hormone levels as required. In addition, though, it does provide specific benefits, such as:

> Extremely powerful memory enhancement and improved cognitive performance

> Supports the adrenals

> A strong anti-fatigue agent

> Of significant benefit in rheumatologic and connective tissue disorders such as rheumatism, osteoarthritis, scleroderma, psoriasis, lupus, and spondylitis

> Repair of the myelin sheath structure

> Improved immunity

> Reduced PMS and menopausal symptoms

> And it just makes you "feel" really good

  Use of pregnenolone has shown no serious side effects even at very high doses of up to 700 mg. However, at the high dosage level, there has been some occurance of minor side effects, including overstimulation and insomnia, irritability, anger or anxiety, acne, and headaches.

      Melatonin

  Melatonin is a natural hormone made in the pineal gland, a pea-sized gland located in the brain. Since its first discovery in 1958, melatonin has been studied extensively and has been shown
to be widely beneficial to the body. As with all of the other hormones we're discussing, melatonin levels decline significantly as we age. An interesting note on melatonin. The trigger for production of melatonin is darkness—total darkness.[1]
 Any light in the room will inhibit production of your
body's melatonin. Today, however, living in a world with nightlights in the bedroom, or streetlights sneaking through the window, we actually have an epidemic of people with insufficient melatonin production, even at a very young age. Now here's the really interesting part. The problem doesn't just come from light falling on our eyes while we sleep, but from light falling on any part of the body. Even if you wear an eye-mask, so that you are in total darkness, if light is falling on your arms or chest or feet, that's enough to stop melatonin production.

[1 Without artificial light we would normally be in total darkness from 8-12 hours a night, producing melatonin
during all of those hours. Living in a city or suburban area may cut the hours of total darkness to 0-6, depending on

how light tight the bedroom is.]

 The benefits of supplementation include:

> Better Sleep

  Lowered levels of nighttime melatonin reduce the quality of sleep resulting in the need for more sleep. If your pineal gland does not produce adequate melatonin early enough in the evening, both the quality and quantity of your sleep may suffer.  Lack of melatonin may make it difficult for you to fall asleep, or may cause you to wake up too soon. Too much melatonin and you will feel yourself feeling exhausted, or "drugged" throughout the day. If secretion does not continue, you may wake up too soon. By taking melatonin instead of other so-called sleeping aids, rapid eye movement sleep (REM=dreaming) is not suppressed nor does it induce "hangover" effects when used as directed.

> Enhanced Immune Function

  Many people report that supplementation with melatonin has significantly reduced their incidence of colds and infections. The exact way in which melatonin affects the immune system is not known. However, since much of the activity of the immune
system takes place at night, some researchers have proposed that melatonin interacts with the immune system during sleep, helping to buffer the adverse effects of stress on the immune system[1]
.
> Powerful Antioxidant Capabilities

Melatonin is one of the most powerful antioxidants produced in the body. In addition, since it is both water and fat soluble, melatonin can reach almost every singlecell in the body. On the down side, however, since it cannot store in the body, it must be replenished daily. This would normally not be a problem, except for the fact, as we've already mentioned, that constant exposure to artificial light has significantly reduced production of melatonin in our bodies.

 >     Mood Elevator 

  Nighttime melatonin levels are low in people with major depressive and panic disorders.
Individuals with noticeable mood swings or who are melancholic also have depressed melatonin levels. Both seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal cyclic
depressions are related to the peaks and valleys of melatonin levels.

> Cancer Fighter

> Helps the Heart

> Relieves Asthma Symptoms

[1 It has been proposed by some that the increased incidence of cancer we are seeing is partially due to the extended time we are exposed to artificial lighting. This is reflected in the fact that melatonin levels of breast cancer and prostate cancer patients are half of normal.

> Alzheimer's

> Cataracts

> Etc.

        General Recommendations

  > Progesterone: Whether you're still going through your menstrual cycles (or whether you're pre-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal), you need to seriously consider supplementation with an all-natural[1]  progesterone cream. The benefits can be profound, and the risks of not supplementing potentially include an increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and osteoporosis—to reiterate just a few.

 And for men, since they are not immune to the effects of xenoestrogens, low levels of natural progesterone supplementation can help with depression and can help relieve prostate problems and help prevent prostate cancer.

> Estrogen: In most cases, estrogen supplementation is not called for. The problem is usually related to a lack of progesterone, not estrogen. But in those cases where it is required, make sure your doctor uses either all-natural triple-estrogen in the normal body-ratio of approximately 90% estriol, 7% estradiol, and 3% estrone—or use pure estriol. As we discussed earlier, this is the exception, not the rule; and most doctors are unaware of the difference.

> Testosterone: Extracts of wild oats and nettles can safely help increase testosterone levels in the body by releasing the bound testosterone already there and helping to prevent conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone in men. For men, zinc supplementation of approximately 50 mg a day is also advisable to help prevent production of dihydrotestosterone in the body.

> HGH: Supplementation with a secretagogue, a homeopathic HGH formula, or the new sublingual polymer matrix HGH makes sense for anyone over 35. All of these are okay to use on a daily basis as they do not suppress the body's own production of HGH. Of the three, however, the polymer matrix HGH is the most effective. You also might want to try increasing your exercise levels. Aerobic exercise can double HGH levels in the body, but weight training can increase levels by as much as 400-800%.

> DHEA: I do not recommend supplementation with DHEA at this time without monitoring DHEA levels in your blood. If you insist, try the new 7-Keto formulas. In any case, supplementation with pregnenolone and/or HGH will help raise DHEA levels in the body. If you choose to supplement, do not use daily, as supplementation may suppress the body's own production of DHEA.

> Pregnenolone: Start with 5 mg a day and increase by 5 mg a day (to a maximum of 30 mg) until you "feel" really good. Then try backing it down to the lowest level that still produces that same feeling. Finally, start backing off on the days that you use it until you are using it only 2 or 3 times a week (so as not to suppress your body's own production). As needed, as you age, you can increase the days and dosage. The final recommended dosage is age dependent. If you're younger than 50, you might consider dosages in the range of 10-20 mg 2 to 3 times a week. If you're over 50, you may end up using 15-30 mg daily.


[1 Make sure you avoid the synthetic forms of progesterone such as Provera.]

> Melatonin: Melatonin, in small doses,[1] several times a week (so as not to suppress your body's own production), makes sense for supplementation. There's virtually no downside; it can help restore optimum sleep patterns, and it's a powerful antioxidant
and immune enhancer. As you get older, you can increase the amount and frequency as needed. There is, of course, another option. Use black-out curtains in the bedroom, and turn off any nightlights. Try to get the bedroom as close to total darkness as you
can get. This will help increase your bodies own melatonin production. And when you wake up in the morning, expose yourself to sunlight ASAP to cut melatonin production and wake yourself up.

          Cautions

  There are several cautions that should be observed when supplementing hormones.

> Pregnant or nursing mothers should not supplement without guidance from their doctors

> Likewise, women trying to conceive would be advised to check with their doctor first

> Anyone being treated by a doctor for a pre-existing condition should check with their doctor. This would include conditions such as: 

Autoimmune diseases

Cancer

Mental illness or depression

 >  Anyone on prescription steroids should check with their doctor first.

   In fact, it probably makes sense to check with an anti-aging specialist[2] before starting a program of hormone supplementation. Yes, that's right. There is now such a thing as an anti-aging specialist.

[1 Dosage varies according to what your body needs. It can range from .2 mg to 20 mg a day. The key to determining
the correct dosage is that which helps you sleep, but let's you wake up without feeling "drugged." Start with
.5 mg and increase by .5 mg a night until you find what works for you. Note: the effect of supplementation often
carries over several nights so that you may only need to supplement every other night or every third night.

[2 Keep in mind that these specialists are still medical doctors and still prone to some of the same paradigm
blindness that afflicts most doctors. Many of these specialists will recommend horse urine and synthetic progestin

for women. You were given a brain. Use it, even when talking to a specialist.]

Next Chapter 11- DYING OF THIRST