This book was required for school. I liked the format in that the sections were divided so you could easily navigate between diet, supplements and therapies. Paavo explained the different therapies well. Dry skin brushing is an easy way to detoxify your skin and make you feel better. I've noticed a difference in my own symptoms of MS like a decrease in numbness in my extremities and my skin feels smoother. Paavo discusses a formula made from different oils that will help replenish aging skin. It is worth a try. All in all this book is a keeper for reference on supplements, juicing and different therapies not commonly practiced in the United States although they are extremely safe. I didn't like the idea that Paavo linked all diseases to a "lack of fasting", however. Fasting has its merits and fasting is good when accompanied with prayer, I was hoping that the author would explain some alternatives for people (like myself) who are unable to fast for weeks at a time. Paavo feels we should all let our bodies decompose a bit for the sake of health. Immediate visions of zombies invade my brain when I think of billions of people decomposing! There has to be some way for people to get the benefits of fasting without starving oneself for weeks. Hopefully I will discover this secret as I continue my quest to heal from MS.
I liked how the book was laid out with each condition in alphabetical order, each only taking a couple pages to cover each ailment. He also provides references and sources to back up what he’s advising. The book includes a handy list of synthetic versus natural vitamin sources so you can choose your supplements accordingly (212-213).
He also covers these conditions but with less detail (161-164): anxiety, athlete’s foot, back pain, bed sores, bedwetting, bee stings, boils, bronchitis, buerger’s disease, burning feet, burning mouth, bursitis, canker sores, cataracts, cold extremities, congestion, cracked lips, cushing’s disease, cystitis, dandruff, dizziness, dry skin, ear aches, eyes issues, fever, gas, gout, gray hair, hay fever, hornet stings, hyperkinetic children (old name for ADHD), impetigo, infections, insomnia, itchy skin, leg cramps, lentigos, lupus erythematosus, lupus vulgaris, mosquito bites, motion sickness, muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, muscular weakness, myasthenia gravis, myopia, nail issues, contraceptives, neuralgia, neurasthenia, numbness, osteomalacia, paralysis, pellagra, poison ivy, poor circulation, pregnancy issues, prickly heat, pyorrhea, rectal itch, red eyes, ring worm, seborrhea, shingles, sickle cell anemia, sinus infection, slow pulse, sores, smell and taste loss, female sterility, swelling, teeth issues, tendinitis, thyroid insufficiency, vaginitis (yeast infection), & vitiligo.
I notice autism isn’t one of the conditions mentioned. Likely because the book was written in 1974, before autism was a problem. More evidence that autism has not “always been around.” The symptoms are so severe that they couldn’t be ignored.
Almost every ailment has a similar recommendation: Juice Fasting (he claims it is superior to water fasting), exercising, herbs, honey, brewer’s yeast, sour/cultured foods, vitamins, minerals, beans, legumes, kelp, whey powder, nuts, seeds, goat milk products, dry brush massage, cold pressed vegetable/seed or fish liver oil, raw vegetables and fruit; avoid animal protein, tobacco, coffee, soda, salt, alcohol, chemicals, processed/refined foods, sugar, & flour (199-200). You need only one-half the amount of protein in your diet if you eat protein foods raw instead of cooked” (187).
He suggests having fruit for breakfast, nuts or cereal for lunch, and vegetables for dinner (187). Combine as few foods as possible in a meal (203). When eating protein with other foods (as in meat and salad), eat the protein first or together, but don’t eat carbs/vegetables before meat (198-199). He says fruit and vegetables shouldn’t be eaten at the same meal, except for lemon, papaya, and avocado (198). Take vitamins with food, but not liquids other than milk (204). Don’t take iron supplements (food is ok) with vitamin e; separate by 8-12 hours (208-209). For maintaining general good health and preventing health problems, Vitamins and minerals from real food is preferable to supplements (210-211). But if treating a specific condition you already have, high doses of vitamins may be necessary and can only realistically be obtained through supplements (211).
A lot of what he recommends was similar to what Edgar Cayce recommended, but Cayce said to eat raw vegetables at lunch and protein for dinner. Airola says nuts, seeds, and grains are even more important than fruit and vegetables (183), because the former are good sources of lecithin and B vitamins (185). Not sure I agree with the importance of grains, despite me loving the taste of pasta. Like Cayce, Airola advises eating 80% alkali-forming foods. But seeds, nuts, and grains are acid-forming foods (284-285).
Another thing I was skeptical of was his recommendation for schizophrenics to avoid meat but consume high niacin. The top sources for Niacin are tuna and meat!
Also included: -recipes (249-256) -list of alkali forming and acid forming foods (285) -list of vitamins and minerals, food sources, and deficiency symptoms(259-283) -recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals (286-287) -nutrient profiles of many foods (288-294) -How to make teas, decoctions, tinctures, and poultices (235-236). -how to detox from contraceptives (163), carbon monoxide, lead, mercury, DDT, cadmium, strontium 90, radioactive iodine 131, x-rays, drugs, nitrates/nitrites, ozone and nitrogen dioxide. -how to do a dry brush massage, cold and hot showers/baths -How to juice (231-233): Drink fruit juices immediately after making. Sweet juice should be diluted with water 50/50. Dont mix fruit and vegetable juices. Drink them 2 hours apart. Dont drink them with meals. Use a hydraulic press juicer. Drink juice slowly.