By Jim Hilton
Forest Ink
Maybe it is the rich food during the holidays or the cloudy weather, but my aches and pains have been more pronounced the last few months. I have been tempted to try some pharmaceutical options but a book caught my attention. “The Inflammation Syndrome” by Jack Challem describes a complete nutritional program to prevent and reverse heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, allergies and asthma.
Mr. Challem who is also the coauthor of Syndrome X starts by describing how inflammation occurs as part of the healing process but chronic inflammation is often due to nutritional imbalances or deficiencies. The author gives some specific examples including Melinda who was in a downward spiral with multiple years of prescription drugs until she finally died at age 39, which according to the author would likely have had a better outcome through diet and nutrition.
In contrast Anita was not doing well with one prescription drug leading to multiple drugs to deal with the increasing complications caused by the first drug. After a number of weeks on a diet described in the book she lost 18 pounds , her blood pressure was normal, her pain, swelling and stiffness decreased and energy levels increased.
In the end she no longer needed to take cortisone drugs for her lupus like symptoms, her headaches were gone and her energy levels were increased. I don’t want to give the impression that I am against all prescription drugs because antibiotics saved my life when I got a leg infection following a simple puncture on my leg.
Some drugs are critical for treating certain forms of epilepsy as described in a book entitled “Determined The science of life without Free Will” by Robert Sapolsky.
The first half of the book was a tough slug but was more interesting and applicable when he discussed epilepsy, ADHD and schizophrenia where he describes the latest treatments rather than burning people at the stake for being witches or demon possessed. Some treatments have allowed patients to lead near normal lives even though they may be on certain drugs for the rest of their lives.
He closes the section about what do we do with mass killers like Ted Bundy, Timothy McVeigh and Anders Breivik from Norway if we accept that there is no free will.
I will leave it up to the readers to make up their minds regarding Mr. Sapolskys views on free will. My final recommendation “The Explorers of the Infinite by Maria Coffey” I propose provides lots of examples where free will seems evident in the secret and spiritual lives of extreme athletes.
One example which stood out for me was Payson Weston and his first walking trip in 1861 when he walked 478 miles because he lost a bet. This was followed up by even longer challenges when at 72 he walked across North America to make the point Americans were lazy because of inventions like the automobile.
He was still walking 25 miles a day when he was in his nineties until he was struck by a cab and lost the use of his legs then died peacefully in his bed two years later.
While I will be the first to admit the easy part is reading the books I am willing to try some of the nutritional changes, getting more exercise and possibly some prescription drugs if the first two approaches don’t work.
READ MORE: FOREST INK: How are we managing fire protection around Williams Lake?
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