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Exclusive Sam Biser Interview...
The Man Who Gave Himself Arthritis So He Could Prove His Cure Works
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The University of Natural Healing Inc.
WARNING: The recommendations contained in this report may cause adverse reactions in some people. This report contains unorthodox ideas and opinions which are NOT accepted by the consensus of medical opinion. Before following these medically unproven ideas, please check with your own medical doctor. If you feel you must self-medicate, proceed with extreme caution. Remember that any herb, food, or other natural method can produce dangerous allergic reactions or side-effects in SOME people. The approaches described in this report are not offered as cures, prescriptions, diagnoses, or a means of diagnosing different conditions. However documented, the information contained is the expression of various opinions — not approved medical fact. The author and the publisher assume no responsibility in the correct or incorrect use of this information and no attempt should be made to use any of this information as a form of treatment without the approval and guidance of your medical doctor. This report is published under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants the right to discuss open and freely all matters of public concern, and to express viewpoints no matter how controversial or unaccepted they may be. The University of Natural Healing Inc. and its employees have no direct or indirect financial connection to any product or service mentioned in this publication. Š 1993, University of Natural Healing, Inc. All rights reserved.
"You can end crippling arthritic pain by adding the proper OILS to your diet." Thirty-five years ago, an unknown company (Witkower Press), published an unknown book {ARTHRITIS AND COMMON SENSE), by an unknown author (Dale Alexander). There were no salesmen to sell the book to stores and there was no advertising to sell it to the public. Yet, within three months, the entire first printing sold out. Within another few months, the second printing sold out, and the third, right afterwards. Today, Dale Alexander's book has become a perennial best-seller. There are Spanish, German, Italian, French, Danish, British, Norwegian, Finnish and Japanese editions completed or in the works, with total sales near a quarter of a million copies. ARTHRITIS AND COMMON SENSE has been the Number One Best-Selling non-fiction book in England. And here in America, it has sold out a remarkable 52 printings — over 1,025,000 cloth bound copies — making it one of the best-selling health books in history What accounts for these phenomenal sales for such a specialized book? There is really just one reason — word-of-mouth recommendations. "One person tries my program," says Mr. Alexander. "It works, so he or she tells some other people. They try it too. It works again, and so it goes. One satisfied customer tells another, who tells another, and another and another." "I think it's reasonable to conclude that the sales of my book amount to a massive world-wide endorsement of my anti-arthritis program — by the people who have tried it."
The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
Dale Alexander was a layman who became interested in arthritis back in the late 1920's, when his mother was stricken with the disease. "I saw her suffer," he says, "for ten long years. I know the damage arthritis can do to a person and her family. "Over the years, her condition gradually deteriorated. The swelling increased. Her knees began to give out. Her fingers became so stiff she could barely open or close her hands. The pain was so constant and intense you could hardly say she was living any more — she was barely existing. "I felt heartbroken to see her suffering — and frustrated because there was nothing I could do about it. It was so maddening that one day something snapped inside of me. I had to do something, anything, to help her. I couldn't watch her suffering any more. From that moment on, I've dedicated my life to helping my mother and all other arthritic sufferers like her." We began the interview by asking him the following question: BISER: Obviously, you had a good measure of success with your mother, or you wouldn't have published your book. How did you, as a layman, with no medical background at all, come to develop a successful program where thousands of doctors have failed? ALEXANDER: I started off by reading everything about arthritis I could get my hands on. I went through all the local libraries. Then I began to haunt the medical libraries. At first, I couldn't find anything of value. Everything I came across my mother had already tried: heat, ointments (you can't imagine how many different kinds), drugs, exercises. They had even extracted her teeth — a popular treatment at the time. But none of these had given her more than mild, temporary relief— so I knew I had to go further.
RISER: What did you do? ALEXANDER: I kept going. My research went in two directions. Interestingly enough they were opposite. On the one hand, I pursued all the latest medical findings and current research. On the other hand, I started digging into the past, into forgotten "remedies" and "folk cures." Needless to say, the great bulk of the material was worthless. But, in an old medical book, published in 1855,1 came upon one old-time folk remedy that was to prove to be the lost "key" to solving the problems of arthritis. The book was by a medical doctor, a Dr. L. J. Dejongh, who had tested the remedy in his daily practice. He had found that it worked better than anything else he had ever heard of. The doctor had no idea of why it worked, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to me. It seemed to fit the facts about arthritis which we'll get into later. But back then, what was very important to me was that the remedy was completely safe. It could do only good; at worst my mother's condition would be unchanged. So I spoke with her about it. She decided to give it a fair try. 'Increase the quality of lubricant fluid in your joints and your arthritis will be gone. That's the story in a nutshell." BISER: What happened? yjEXANDER: At first, nothing.
The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
Then, after ten weeks, the first in a series of curious changes came over her. Her hair, which had been lifeless and dry, began to recover its lustre and sheen. During the twelfth week, another change occurred. Her skin, always very dry, became soft and supple. Next, she discovered a new sensation in her ears. She found that, for the first time in years, she was developing ear wax — which is normal in a healthy person. The last, and most notable change, was the one we had been seeking all along — relief from her arthritic condition. In the middle of the fifth month — that's quite some time — it happened. Her fingers and arms began to lose their swelling and stiffness. The pain began to recede. Next, her knees began to feel better, and finally her back. Once the first signs of improvement had begun, the whole process moved quite rapidly. Before long there was pain-free motion! After so many years of suffering, her long ordeal was over. We were so happy, we cried. BISER: What was that remedy you gave her? ALEXANDER: Oddly enough, it was plain old cod liver oil. It sounds like an unlikely solution, doesn't it? But you ought to see what it can do for arthritis. What cod liver oil does is to increase the quality of the joint fluid. You see, the basic cause of arthritis is that the lubricating fluid in the joints gets too thin. It doesn't lubricate properly. So, naturally, your joints become stiff and difficult to move. When human joints lack the proper lubricant fluid, the various parts of the joint — the cartilage, the joint lining, the bony parts — begin to rub
and grind against one another. There's friction, then stiffness, then irritation, and then finally inflammation. That's just what the word arthritis means: inflammation of the joints. 'Arth" means joint and "itis" means inflammation. To function properly, the joints of your "human machine" — like the joints of any machine — need a constant supply of proper lubricating oils. When a machine is low on oil, you can squirt in oil from the outside. Obviously, you can't do that with your body But you can lubricate yourself from the inside — by taking cod liver oil. When you take cod liver oil properly, it reaches the joint linings so you can avoid arthritic pain. The lining absorbs the nutrients and fatty substances from the cod liver oil. Then, it converts them into proper quality lubricating fluid. This fluid, in turn, is absorbed by the cartilage, which absorbs it like a sponge absorbs water. Once it is lubricated, the cartilage can retain its elasticity. It can then do its proper job — to act as a cushion to protect the bones from friction. That's the story in a nutshell. I know the theory works, because over the years, I've received thousands of letters from people throughout America — and later around the world — who have tried cod liver oil. They all write that the pain and swelling in their joints have disappeared and that they have been able to resume normal and happy lives. For instance, I got a letter from a woman in St. Petersburg, Florida, who was "cured" by cod liver oil. Let me read it to you because I've got it on me. [Editor: Mr. Alexander looked through his briefcase and found the letter.!
The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
She said: "Dear Dale Alexander: "Twenty-five years ago, I was unable to walk. Every joint in my body was aching. My husband had to carry me up the stairs. I was unable to walk. My doctors told me I would eventually have to be in a wheelchair. "I read your book and took the cod liver oil. In one month, I was able to walk and work. The pain was gone. Now and then I go off the cod liver oil and the pain comes back. So, I go back to it and I am all right again, thank God. If it were not for your book, I would today be a complete invalid." Here's another letter. It's from a 59 year-old man in Warren, Michigan, who had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for seven years. His body was so stiff he couldn't bend over to put on his socks and shoes. His wife had to do it for him. By chance, a friend who was cured by cod liver oil told him of my book. He started taking it and experienced incredible improvement within five months. The swelling on his hands, knees and elbows disappeared. He could turn his neck without moving his body at the same time. He could even scratch his back by himself. But what pleased him more than anything was that he could get down on the floor to play with his granddaughter. Another case was the ten year-old child who was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis. The poor child couldn't move about and play like normal children. He was filled with pain, just like an adult with full-blown arthritis. For five years, his mother had tried every treatment known to medical science.
Then she heard me talk on the radio and decided to give him cod liver oil. A miracle occurred. Within months, the child was 90% better. He can play again. He laughs. He's happy. What little stiffness he has left will eventually fade away. Incidentally, it doesn't matter what kind of arthritis you have, they all respond to cod liver oil. The reason for this is that all arthritis — regardless of the symptoms — has the same basic cause: poorly lubricated joints. It's just that each person reacts differently. For example, if friction causes the cartilage to wear away, we call it osteoarthritis. If it's the joint lining that suffers, it's rheumatoid arthritis. No matter what the symptoms, cod liver oil will help. Even gouty arthritis, which is not directly related to joint lubrication, will respond to my approach. "Cod liver oil treatment for arthritis was tested and approved by Dr. Ralph Pemberton, one of the leading rheumatologists of all time."
BISER: That's an interesting theory. Do you have any evidence to back it up? ALEXANDER: I certainly do. I've spent the last 30 years researching arthritis, so at this point I can speak with some authority. I didn't just read a few articles on cod liver oil, cure my mother, and run out and publish a book. I knew I had a big responsibility — both to the public and to the medical profession. I knew I was definitely on to something, but I realized I had to back up my theories with solid, indisputable evidence. Otherwise, why should anyone pay attention to me? As soon as mother was back on her feet, I returned to the medical libraries to pick up where I had left off. I had exhausted the local medical
The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
libraries, so I travelled across the United States to medical libraries in over ninety different cities. Along the way, I met with specialists at various clinics to study and learn what they had to offer. I was learning a great deal about arthritis, but also wanted to get an education in the basic sciences. So I enrolled in the pre-medical program at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and later took additional courses at Columbia University. By the time I was finished, I had received a good working knowledge and was rapidly becoming a walking encyclopedia on arthritis. I felt confident enough at this point to plunge into my own research. I began by putting in long nights in laboratories doing thousands of scientific tests and studying the physiology of human joints. I also spent several years working in hospitals to round out my book learning with a first hand exposure to arthritis victims. At every step of the way, my theory grew stronger and stronger. Nothing contradicted it. The theory fit the facts and accounted for the symptoms. It was supported by a mound of experimental evidence. Most importantly, the theory passed the acid test — it worked on actual patients. For two years, I tested my theory on arthritis under the direct medical supervision of an orthopedic surgeon in New York City. Everything worked the way I thought it would. All the while, I was refining my ideas and building my case. Now I was ready. I knew I had the answer to arthritis. So I completed my book and published it not long afterward. You know the rest of the story.
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"Within two to twenty weeks, 92 of the 98 patients responded with a dramatic reduction in pain, as well as increased energy and better overall health/'
BISER: What did you learn that supported your theory? ALEXANDER: There were dozens of findings that backed me up. For instance, I learned that the joint linings can accept nutritional oils directly from the bloodstream. I also learned that cartilage — the tissue next to the bone — could absorb these oils from the lining, through osmosis. Then, I found a report in Dr. Pemberton's book The Medical Management of Arthritis, which showed that normal people have joint fluid that's over fifteen times as thick and viscous as the fluid in arthritic joints. What a difference! It shows the tremendous variation of joint fluid between a healthy person and an arthritic. Another finding I unearthed was that the quality of the joint fluid is directly influenced by diet. For instance, if you eat a meal containing sugary liquids, the joint fluid will be significantly thinner within twenty minutes. I also discovered quite a few experiments testing the effects of oilfree diets on animals. One such report was conducted by Drs. Burr and Burr and was reported in the fournal of Biological Chemistry (Vol. 82,1929, and Vol. 86, 1930). The animals, in this case rats, were placed on oil-free diets. Within 70 to 90 days, they developed dry inflamed and swollen joints identical to human arthritis. They also developed dry, scaly skin, dry scalp and dandruff, and dry ear canals devoid of normal earwax — all signs that the body is drying out. That's why these symptoms so frequently accompany human arthritis. If you recall, my mother suffered from them, too. Once the oils were replaced, the animals gradually lost their symptoms. In other experiments, such as the one reported in Biochemical
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
Journal (Vol. 32,1938), four doctors from England discovered that cod liver oil was the best oil to use in curing oil-deficiency symptoms. I was impressed with these animal experiments. But I wanted to see if oil-free diets would have the same effects on humans. If they did, it would add one more brick to the case I was building. I used myself as a guinea pig, because I wanted to understand exactly what it was like to suffer from arthritis. I removed essential oils from my diet and took other means to starve my system of oils. For a while, nothing happened. Then, four months later, it happened — the first signs of arthritis appeared. My skin began to getflaky.Then, my shoulder felt a little stiff in the mornings. Time went on and it developed into full arthritis, with pain, swelling and inflammation. I had to stop the experiment. I had proved my point, and anyway, I couldn't function and do research with all that pain. So I got some cod liver oil and cured myself. Here. Look at my fingers. [Editor: I did. They were young looking, supple fingers with no swelling at all. His hands looked like the hands of a 35 year-old.] No swelling. No pain. No signs of arthritis at all. I'm going on 60 and a government report says that just about everybody over 50 has one symptom or another of arthritis. But I don't and I believe cod liver oil is the reason.
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BISER: Has cod liver oil ever been tested by the medical profession? ALEXANDER: Many times. Medical literature is full of accounts of its use as a folk remedy two hundred years back in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis. More recently, in 1920, to be precise, cod liver oil was tested and approved by Dr. Ralph Pemberton of the University of Pennsylvania. He was one of the leading rheumatologists of all time. The highest honor a rheumatologist can receive today is to be called upon to give the annual Pemberton Lecture on Rheumatology. That gives you an idea of the esteem in which Dr. Pemberton is held. Dr. Pemberton tested cod liver oil on hundreds of arthritic patients. He reported his findings in his report entitled, "Studies on Arthritis in the Army Based on Four Hundred Cases," which appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine, March, 1920, pages 231-282, and in his book, The Medical Management of Arthritis. After thorough testing, Dr. Pemberton concluded that cod liver oil was effective in eliminating the pain, stiffness and swelling of chronic arthritis. This is quite an endorsement, coming from a man like Dr. Pemberton. More recently, in 1959, there was another study which reported similar results. This one was conducted by Dr. Charles Brusch and Dr. Edward Johnson and was reported in the July, 1959 issue of the National Journal of Medicine. This report involved 98 people suffering with various types of arthritis. Each person was put on my cod liver oil regimen and the response was carefully monitored. Within two to twenty weeks, 92 of the 98 patients responded with a dramatic reduction in pain, as well as increased energy
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
and better overall health. It was a beautiful confirmation of what I knew to be true. "I'm not against drinking water—but you have to do it at the right time, which is ten minutes before a meal or three hours afterward."
BISER: Why didn 't all of the patients respond: what about the six who didn't? ALEXANDER: I can answer that. Once the joint has been deformed or too severely damaged, not even cod liver oil can repair it. I hate to say it, because it sounds cruel, but the most you can expect at that point is relief from pain. Crippled and deformed joints almost never heal. It's tragic, because arthritis can be so easily prevented with cod liver oil. BISER: Is there anything else to your regimen besides cod liver oil? ALEXANDER: Yes, there is. Cod liver oil is only a part of it. Over the years, I have expanded my approach little by little. Today, it is a whole anti-arthritis program which is backed by years of scientific testing. What I put together is a new pleasant-tasting dietary approach to treating arthritis. I am not going to tell you to starve yourself. Nor will you have to eat long lists of strange or unusual foods. This is a down-to-earth approach for curing arthritis right in your own home. Before you start the program, I request that you visit your physician for a thorough diagnosis and examination. Then, you should return to your doctor for periodic check-ups to chart the progress of your recovery Let's get on with the program. Basically, it is divided into two parts; foods and habits that inhibit or destroy the oil in your joints, and foods and
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habits that enhance or increase the quality of synovial fluid in the joints. Let's start with the oil-inhibiting foods and habits. The first oil-inhibiting habit is drinking your oil-free liquids like water, tea or coffee with your meal. "/ came upon one old-time folk remedy that was to prove to be the lost 'key' to solving the problems of arthritis."
BISER: What's so bad about that? ALEXANDER: Well, when you drink liquids with meals, very little oil gets to the joints. Let me explain, because it's very important. Remember the old adage that oil and water don't mix. Well, it's also true in matters of diet. I'll explain. When you eat a meal, the food is broken down into minute oily particles and mixed with the stomach juices. The heat in the stomach changes any fats in the food into tiny oily globules. Now — if you've drank no liquids — here's what happens. The tiny oily globules (about half of them) are collected by something called the cisterna chyle. This is a passageway leading out of the stomach and emptying eventually into the bloodstream. The oily globules travel along this passageway, get to the bloodstream and are transported to the joints. The remaining oils will travel on and eventually enter the portal vein and go to the liver. However — if you drank an oil-free beverage with your meal, the picture changes. The beverage causes the oil globules to rupture into one large pool. Now, only about 20% of them can enter the cisterna chyle, bypass the liver, and go directly to the joints. The other 80% go on to the portal
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
vein. They end up in the liver, which uses them for energy and other metabolic purposes — not as lubricants. If you want your dietary oils to act as lubricants, you've got to get them to bypass your liver. The way to accomplish this is to avoid all mealtime beverages, except milk or soups. These two beverages cause no problems because they already contain tiny particles of oil. Hence they don't disturb the globules in the stomach. So, to sum up, avoid oil-free beverages at mealtime. You will actually triple the amount of oils available for joint lubrication. This isn't an idle speculation of mine. It's been proven by no less an authority than Dr. Abraham White of Yale University. I'm not against drinking water — but you have to do it at the right time, which is ten minutes before a meal or three hours afterward. One more thing: You have to drink your liquids at the right temperature. Don't drink iced liquids with meals. The cold liquids will congeal (harden) the oils in your food, making it almost impossible for them to bypass the liver. Next to water (drank at the wrong time), the most harmful dietary mistake is drinking acid liquids. BISER: Why do you say that? ALEXANDER: When you drink citrus juices, the citric acid they contain cuts the oil out of your system. For example, when you eat a lobster dinner, or southern-fried chicken with your hands, a restaurant often serves you a finger bowl. Next time
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you receive the little dish of water, take notice of the tiny piece of lemon that came along with it. Did you ever stop to think why they gave you the lemon? The reason is this: as you wash your hands, the lemon is supposed to cut away the oils from your soiled fingers. Why do you think beauticians use lemon oil rinses on women's hair? To wash away excessive oils from the scalp. I know from direct observation and from the reports I've read that the sharp cutting action of lemon also occurs in the human body. Lemons kill off the lubricating oils we need most. I don't object to a little lemon juice sprinkled occasionally on a salad or used as flavoring on fish. But this is where the use of lemon juice should stop. Other fruit juices are equally bad. The reason for this is that they are all acidic. When you drink them, the acidity goes into your system without being neutralized by your saliva. So avoid fruit juices, including apple juice and pineapple juice. However, citrus fruits are fine. You may have as many as you like. But chew them well to allow your saliva to neutralize the acidity they contain. Besides citrus juices, there are a number of acid foods which are also bad for arthritis. Vinegar is one. It contains acetic acid. Another is soda pop. It contains phosphoric acid, an acid strong enough to dissolve a tooth in two weeks. Imagine what it can do to the linings of your joints. Regular non-herbal tea should be dropped. It contains another acid, tannic acid. This is what the tanning industry uses to remove the oil from
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
hides. It does the same thing to joints. When I visited England, a land of tea drinkers, I saw more cases of deformed arthritis than anywhere else in the world. Stick to herbal teas like rose hips, peppermint, etc. Finally, eliminate all white sugar and products made with it. Sugar attacks the oils in your joints, leaving them subject to scarring. Unfortunately, more and more young people are eating sugary snacks and drinking sugary soft drinks. Now, if my theory has any validity at all, then you'd expect to find arthritis in young people, which used to be unheard of. And what do we find? Well, according to government statistics, the number of cases of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis climbs steadily from year to year. Even two-year-old children are getting it. 7/ you take cod liver oil capsules, instead of my recommended 'oil-mixture', you won't get results." BISER: What about natural sugars like honey? ALEXANDER: There is nothing wrong with unprocessed honey used in moderation. But just be sure to chew each bite of honey well to digest it. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you'd be better off dropping honey altogether. Your joints will probably be too sensitive to take it. BISER: / assume it goes without saying that arthritics should avoid junk foods, coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes? ALEXANDER: I have no quarrel with you on junk foods. In fact, the more highly refined starches you eat, the harder it will be for you to cure your arthritis.
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However, on coffee, alcohol, and cigarettes, I have somewhat of a surprise for your readers — because I'm not truly against them. As far as arthritis is concerned, there is nothing really wrong with coffee — at the right time. Have your coffee ten minutes before your meal, but not with it. And don't use white sugar in your coffee. If you must, find a sugar substitute. What about alcohol? Again, it's a question of timing, and also a question of moderation. Drink before meals. And take your drinks straight or with plain water. Never add iced water or sweet cream. Don't mix your drinks with carbonated water. It attacks the joint linings. Beer is another form of carbonated beverage, so use it sparingly. Again, have it before meals or two hours afterward. You may wonder about smoking? Will it harm arthritics? I doubt it. My research doesn't indicate that smoking can ever do anything to dry up the oils in your body. However, I have found evidence that excessive smoking causes arteries to contract and that this might damage your joint tissues. If you want to smoke, go ahead and enjoy it, but be moderate. "Usually it takes from three to six months or more to get results. But sometimes it happens in only two weeks."
BISER: Before we go on to the next part of your program, are there any other oil-inhibiting foods or habits? ALEXANDER: There is one. It's that arthritics often choose the wrong oils. Not all oils will nourish the joints. The wrong ones will only clog up your system. They'll do little except add to your weight, and lead to high blood pressure, gallbladder trouble and heart disease. You should avoid the following oils and fats: all meat fats (including lard, cold cut meat fat, hamburger fat, etc.), cottonseed oil, mineral oil,
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
hydrogenated peanut butter, store-bought ice cream, chocolate candies, and roasted, salted nuts. BISER: Now for the oil-enhancing foods and habits. What are they? ALEXANDER: Let's start with the good oils. The most important one is cod liver oil. I have spent years testing every kind of oil — soy oil, corn oil, peanut oil and numerous others — and I discovered that cod liver oil is one of the best lubricants of the joints. Cod liver oil is the best all-around oil, not only for arthritics, but for everyone. Besides being such an excellent lubricant, it has other benefits. For one, it contains plenty of vitamins A and D. You need vitamin A for eyes and skin moisture. You need vitamin D to make strong bones and joints. You also need vitamin D to make natural cortisone, which is manufactured by your adrenal glands. Without cortisone in our bodies, we'd all have arthritis. Cortisone's purpose is to increase the stickiness of the joint oil. Without it, joint oils thin out and leak into surrounding tissues. Cod liver oil helps you make your own cortisone, which is far better than any synthetic product. Cod liver oil also contains iodine and some fifty other different nutrients. It's the best single food an arthritic could use. BISER: What's the best time to take it? ALEXANDER: For best results you should take it either one hour before breakfast or four hours after the last meal of the day. You want it to take it on an empty stomach so that it bypasses the liver. You want it to go directly through your arteries to your joints.
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To add even more value to the cod liver oil, I have developed a process which emulsifies it with fresh, strained orange juice or warm milk. When you combine the oil with orange juice or milk, the entire mixture is more easily assimilated — it travels more readily from the stomach into the bloodstream and reaches arthritic joints in greater supply. [Editor: Whole milk is preferred, however, orange juice can be used if necessary] To get well, it's important that you follow my instructions carefully. For example, if you take cod liver oil capsules instead of the oil mixture, you won't get results. The capsules will go into the small intestine. The oil in them will then be processed by the liver. It'll never reach your joints. If the fishy taste is a real problem, there are other flavors of cod liver oil, such as cherry, apricot, peach, almond, mint, and so forth. [Editor: These are available at most health food stores.] BISER: What are other good oilsfor arthritics? ALEXANDER: There are several foods with good quality oils. One of the best is milk. Milk contains vitamin D as well as excellent oils. Regrettably, many arthritics avoid milk. I can understand why, because milk can produce a number of difficulties. But you can avoid them by using it properly. To begin with, it's best to drink milk at room temperature. If you drink it too hot, over 100 degrees, it will tend to cause constipation. If you drink it too cool, the fats will not be properly absorbed. My studies indicate that one glass of milk at room temperature is worth five glasses of cold milk.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
Don't avoid milk because you've heard it's calcium forming. This only occurs when you add milk to coffee, tea or cocoa. Here's why: Milk is pasteurized at high temperatures. This causes the oil in milk to surround the calcium particles. When you add milk to a beverage, the oil particles clump together. This seals the calcium even tighter so that it is improperly absorbed. As a result, calcium deposits are left in the wrong tissues or on the ends of bones, such as on fingers. If milk gives you flatulence or mucous, start with small quantities such as a six ounce glass once a day. Gradually, over a six month period, train yourself to accept larger amounts. A good quantity of milk to consume regularly is three, six ounce glasses a day. Another oil-rich food, one that's related to milk, is butter. You can use butter on hot cereals or hot vegetables. It's also delicious on a hot baked potato. But don't overdo butter, especially if you have a tendency toward obesity. Egg yolks are another good source of oils. The best ways to eat them are three minute boiled, poached, coddled, or raw in an eggnog (without sugar). BISER: Don't eggs cause cholesterol? ALEXANDER: No. That's a fallacy. It all depends on how you use them. The only time you have a problem from eggs is when you drink oil-free liquids with your meals. Beverages like coffee, for example, turn the egg yolk into a rubbery material which taxes the gall bladder, the heart and the arteries. It is all right to drink milk with eggs, because milk is an oil-rich liquid. Hence, it doesn't affect the oily substances already in your stomach from
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other foods. The same is true of soups. That's why milk and soup are the only two liquids I recommend with meals. Among soups, chicken soup is a very popular soup. People for generations have used it to help heal many illnesses. However, avoid rice, dumplings or noodles in your soup. These starches will negate the good oils. If you feel you have to have some, add a small amount of brown rice or whole grains. The last good oil-rich food on my list is fish. The four best fish for arthritics are mackerel, halibut, salmon steaks, and sardines. Be sure to eat the skin and dark meat, which contains iodine, a nutrient helpful to arthritics. "I firmly believe that, had I known about your diet when I was eighteen, I would never have had arthritis... and would have been spared all those years of suffering."— 68 year-old woman
BISER: What else is there to your program? ALEXANDER: I recommend you get as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Of the fruits, some of the best are apples, bananas, apricots, cherries, peaches and pears. Any others are also fine. If you use canned fruit, be sure to drain off the sugar syrup. And that's about it; you've got my complete program for lasting relief from arthritis.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
BISER: You haven't mentioned vitamins. Aren 't they apart of your program? ALEXANDER: My tests indicate that simply taking vitamins in a concentrated form doesn't really help, at least for arthritics. Vitamins by themselves won't work if you continue to drink water with meals. It's said that various vitamins are supposed to help arthritics, and no doubt there's a lot of truth to it. For instance, vitamin C is needed in the production of natural cortisone — which keeps the joint fluid from leaking into the tissues. Other supplements used for arthritis, such as alfalfa, probably contain minerals that may be needed in the production of joint fluid. But no supplement can lubricate the joints like cod liver oil. Moreover, supplements aren't necessary if you're following my program. If you're drinking milk, taking cod liver oil, eating green leafy vegetables, whole grain bread, soups and lean meats and fish, then you're getting all the vitamins you need. If you insist on taking extra vitamins, go ahead, take them. They won't hurt you. But at least take them with milk. If you take them with water, you negate the food value of your meal. BISER: If a person does everything right, how quickly can he or she get well? ALEXANDER: I'd like to be able to say you can get quick results overnight. But it doesn't happen. Usually it takes anywhere from three to six months or more to get results. But sometimes it happens in only two weeks.
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You have to expect your recovery to take time. Your condition, after all, was brought on after years of abuse to your body. It will take time for your joints to heal. Where you have had days, months, even years of discomfort, you will suddenly realize that you are now having "good days" with no pain at all. The change itself is a gradual process. Your number of "good days" will keep increasing until you are no longer classified as an "arthritic." Generally speaking, after taking cod liver oil, your fingers and your arms will lose their stiffness and swelling first. Arthritis of the back and spine will require the longest time before any change is noticed. Don't be discouraged. You may think nothing is happening when all of a sudden, the improvement will come from nowhere. Just know that you are no different from anyone else. The program will work for you if you stick at it. Take your courage from the examples of the many people like you who have gotten well. For instance, one of them was a 50 year-old woman from Antioch, Illinois. She had what was diagnosed as advanced, degenerative arthritis. She has been under the care of four separate medical doctors and one orthopedic surgeon, who wanted to operate. She has been bounced around from doctor to doctor and from drug to drug. The results have been minimal. Another case was a woman who wrote and said she had been stricken with crippling arthritis around Christmas of 1973. She had been going to an orthopedic surgeon every week for removal of excess fluid from her knees. Her doctors said it wasn't getting any better and that they would have to operate.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
That night after she learned of it, she cried and prayed. Two days later, a friend came to her and told her about my book. She started the program immediately. Her progress was gradual, but now she is free from all pain, inflammation and nodules. Another letter I'd like to share with you is from a woman named Ann, a 68 year-old woman from Edinburgh, Scotland. It was one of the most heartwarming letters I've ever received. It's letters like that that make it all worth it. Ann's arthritis began when she was eighteen and continued throughout her entire life. Before she heard about cod liver oil, her neck and shoulder were permanently stiff and painful. As she grew older, her hands became stiff and clumsy and she dropped many things. Eventually, her body stiffened up so much that she couldn't even bend over to pick them up. She just had to leave them where they dropped until someone else could get them. She became frightened to walk without a cane, because she never knew when an ankle or a foot might give out with a stab of pain. Doctors had tried their best on her drugs, physiotherapy, heat, exercises, traction, but whatever they did made her worse. Then, one day she heard about my program on the radio. Since going on the program, about 80% of the pain in her knees has vanished. She told me it is an absolute miracle. She was only on the program for two months at the time, so I expect she's made much more progress since then. She started on the cod liver oil. Six weeks later, the first miracle occurred. She went outside and suddenly felt she was walking more easily.
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She was more erect and not hunched. Several days later, she noticed it was easier to move about the house. In a year's time, many but not all of her symptoms disappeared. In her letter, [Editor: Mr. Alexander was reading from it.] she said: "I do not say I am cured: I did not expect to be cured after fifty years. But I am profoundly grateful for the fantastic miraculous improvement. "I firmly believe," she said, "that, had I known about your diet when I was eighteen, I would never have had arthritis ... and would have been spared all those years of suffering." "Don't be discouraged. You may think nothing is happening when all of a sudden, the improvement will come from nowhere."
BISER: That is a beautiful story. I have a few more questions for you. If you have time. ALEXANDER: Go right ahead. I'm not in any rush. BISER: Thank you. One thing that's not clear about your program: Does it remove calcium spurs? ALEXANDER: In a number of cases, yes, particularly if the spur or calcium deposit is in the early stages. If the cod liver oil doesn't help, the only thing you can do is get ultrasound treatments from a local hospital or chiropractor or osteopath. This will dissolve the deposit if cod liver oil fails. Fortunately, many cases do respond to the cod liver oil alone. One of them was a woman from California who had a painful bone spur on her right foot. She winced from pain every time she walked. Three months after she started the cod liver oil, the spur vanished. Now she says it feels like it was never there. So it's worth trying.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
BISER: Let's turn for a moment to some orthodox approaches. How successful are they? ALEXANDER: Some of them are quite successful, but only in the short run. Over the long term, there are almost always serious side effects or relapses. You have to expect this, because no drug can lubricate the joints. Cortisone is a prime example of orthodox therapy. In certain kinds of arthritis, cortisone can stop the pain within hours. Cortisone has an antiinflammatory effect. However, reports indicate that some 85% of the cases later suffer relapses. Moreover, cortisone has many side effects, including swelling of hands and legs, mental depression, high blood pressure, softening of bones and hemorrhages in the intestinal tract. Still in all, I am grateful to the doctors who developed synthetic cortisone. It has a place in the treatment of arthritis, most notably the rheumatoid variety. Cortisone can give needed temporary relief. Aspirin falls in the same category as cortisone. It offers short-term relief but has no curative effect whatsoever. Its use has to be carefully controlled to prevent hemorrhages, ulcers and interference with the clotting mechanism of the blood. There are two other orthodox approaches worth mentioning in passing. I don't care for either one of them. They don't even provide temporary relief. The first one is gold salts. How can gold cure arthritis? How many times do gold salts have to fail before we stop using them? Once and for all, there is nothing helpful in gold salts.
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The second such approach is antibiotics such as penicillin. No specific germ has been discovered that will cause arthritis or rheumatism. No antibiotic can ever lubricate the joints. The most they can do is clear up an infection brought on by inflammation — a result of poorly lubricated joints. I wish you could walk into a doctor's office, get a vaccine and be cured. But it's not possible. You have to "re-oil" your joints. It takes time, but it's the only real way to obtain long-lasting permanent relief from arthritis. BISER: What about some of the popular theories on arthritis; for instance, that it's caused by weather or by wear and tear on the joints? ALEXANDER: When you look into them, these theories just don't make sense. For example climate — winds, rain, sun — don't bring on arthritis. Nor will a change in weather cure it. If geography were really the answer, why are there arthritics in sunny Florida as well as the snow-covered mountains of Montana? Approximately 10% of the entire population of the United States, in every city across the country — over 22 million people in all — are confronted with arthritis. So you can't blame arthritis on weather.
"After having been on cod liver oil for about three months, I'm hardly aware of any discomfort at all, even on cold, damp days."—Delta Airlines Captain BISER: But don't arthritics feel worse when the weather is damp? ALEXANDER: That's quite true. However, is the dampness the true cause of the problem? Or is it just irritating poorly lubricated joints already weakened by friction? If weather were really the cause, then everyone would have arthritis during damp weather. But they don't.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
Moreover, many arthritics who were sensitive to weather write and tell me that after cod liver oil, it no longer affects them. For example, I got a letter from a pilot with Delta Air Lines. He had suffered from inflammation and stiffness in his wrist. Considering his occupation, it was a serious matter. In his letter, he wrote, 'After having been on the cod liver oil program for about three months, I'm hardly aware of any discomfort at all, even on cold, damp days." BISER: What about the wear and tear theory? ALEXANDER: The wear and tear theory states that osteoarthritis can be caused by overactivity in work or exercise. It's said this wears out the cushion of cartilage at the end of the bones. This theory leaves much to be desired. For instance, for every million persons supposedly suffering from wear and tear arthritis, there are ten million people, of the same age, doing similar work, who do not have it. Why? Because they have the proper lubricating fluids in their joints. The wear and tear theory was refuted many years ago by Dr. E.F. Rosenberg in the July 2,1949 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Dr. Rosenberg made the following points: 1. Osteoarthritis of the fingers involves only the end joints. Why isn't the whole finger affected since all the joints are used equally? 2. Only one hip becomes afflicted. Yet, throughout the years, both hips were used equally
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3. Sedentary workers are often victims of osteoarthritis without any signs of mechanical or physical wear on their skeletal structures. In short, the theory, just doesn't hold up. Mine is the only one that a) fits the facts, b) is supported by the evidence and c) actually works — in almost all cases. What more could you want from any theory? "There is no remedy in use today which will produce the feeling of well-being, and the appearance of health, that I have seen following the Alexander method."— Dr. HI. Kirschner, M.D.
BISER: What does the medical profession think of your program? ALEXANDER: Frankly, some doctors are still attacking my program. But, there are fewer and fewer as time goes on. On the other hand, more and more medical doctors are recommending my program and using it. I have numerous letters from practicing doctors telling me of the success they are having. Dr. H.E. Kirschner, who wrote the foreword to my book, said: "Dale Alexander's methods and dietary approach have already gained excellent results for victims of the disease. There is no remedy in use today which will produce the feeling of well-being and the appearance of health that I have seen following the use of Alexander's method." I think it's only a matter of time before the medical profession will turn to diet as the real "cure" for arthritis. It happened with insulin. If you're old enough to remember, it wasn't too many years ago that doctors relied on insulin to control diabetes. Now, they recognize diet as an accepted and
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
preferred method of treatment. I predict the same thing will happen with arthritis. For me, it will be a dream come true. I've given my life to bring this about. I've been crusading for the dietary approach to arthritis for the past 30 years. I've traveled over half a million miles to lectures in hundreds and hundreds of cities, sometimes before crowds as big as 8,000 people. So far, I've received thousands of letters. It's been the greatest experience of my life. But it's not enough. Because right now, over 22 million people in this country alone are suffering with arthritis. Over 700,000 of these people are so crippled by it that they cannot even dress, cook for themselves or get out of a wheelchair without assistance. I want to see them all get well. I want to spare them the untold miseries and crippling my mother went through. Whether you are reading this because of your own arthritis or because a loved one has arthritis — it is my fervent prayer that this contribution of mine may be the missing piece to solve your problem. BISER: Thank you very much, Mr Alexander. [Editor: You can obtain all six of Mr. Alexander's books direct from: Whitkower Press, P.O. Box 2296, Bishop's Corner, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, (202) 232-1127.] His original book, Arthritis and Common Sense, is $14.95 plus postage and handling of $1.50. His updated successor to this book is Arthritis and Common Sense #2 is also $14.95 and $1.50postage and handling]
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"How to Take Cod Liver Oil"—Dale
Alexander
You will need an orange, some cod liver oil, a tablespoon, a juice strainer and two glasses, holding four ounces each. 1. Take one half (1/2) of a medium-sized orange at room temperature and squeeze out the juice. 2. Strain the orange juice into a four ounce glass. Make certain that all pulp is removed. 3. Put two ounces of this strained orange juice into another four ounce glass (Glass No. 2). Discard any juice left over in Glass No. 1. 4. Add one tablespoon of pure cod liver oil to the Glass No. 2 which now contains the orange juice. (Use mint-flavored or wild cherry cod liver oil, if you wish, for a more pleasant taste.) 5. Stir well for ten to fifteen seconds. You will notice hundreds of tiny oil bubbles. 6. Pour the mixed oil and orange juice in Glass No. 2 back and forth, from one glass into the other, about twenty times. Many thousands of minute bubbles will now appear on the surface of the mixture. 7. Drink the mixture immediately 8. Do not disturb this oil with food or water for at least four hours, if mixture is taken at night. If oil is taken in the morning, two hours will be enough since the stomach empties quicker under these conditions.
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
9. Take cod liver oil alone, without the orange juice, if you wish. It has some advantages without the juice, particularly if you have arthritis in its advanced stages. If you are deformed, for example, you may take the oil by itself or mix it with two tablespoons of "cool milk." Usually the deformed stage of arthritis indicates an allergy to the citric acid or fruit sugar in the orange. After several months of straight oil, or oil and milk combination, you may then use a small amount of juice to mix the oil. Those who have not been ill too long — are less sensitive to fruit juice — can use up to four tablespoons of strained orange juice. But no one should use more than four tablespoons of juice with the oil. 10. Keep your bottle of cod liver oil refrigerated at all times — to keep it from getting rancid. Also keep it out of the sunlight. 11. It is important to use two small four ounce glasses to mix the ingredients. If we used a larger glass, more of the oil would be left clinging to the inside surface of the glass — and our bodies would get lesser amounts. 12. DO NOT MLX THE COD LIVER OIL IN LEMON OR GRAPEFRUIT JUICE. These juices are too caustic to use. Orange juice or cool milk is the only kind of liquid for our mixing purpose. 13. If a person has an ulcer in the stomach or has colitis — then mix the oil with two-four tlbs. cool milk. Or take oil by itself. 14. Do not use concentrated orange juice. It should be fresh, and put through a strainer.
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QUESTIONS FROM READERS: Osteoarthritis and diabetics.
QUESTION: My wife has osteoarthritis. She is also a diabetic and takes 500 milligrams of tolinase per day. Willfollowing Dale Alexander's prescribed cod liver oil regimen have detrimental effects upon her diabetes? — H.S., Mission, Texas ALEXANDER: I don't foresee any problems. Just be sure to avoid water and iced beverages with meals. Both of them tend to increase the amount of fat going into the small intestine. This increases the workload of the gallbladder and pancreas. QUESTIONS FROM READERS: Problems with cod liver oil.
QUESTION: / take the cod liver oiljust like Mr. Alexander says, but my arthritis immediately gets worse. If I stop for a few days and then start again, my joints and muscles get more sore than they were to start with. I am very upset with this as I thought here was at last some help." — P. E. B., Nora, Virginia ALEXANDER: In 28 years, I have never heard of a problem like that. Perhaps you are suffering from an allergy to fish products. It is hard to tell because I don't know you or your eating habits. Make sure you cut sweet liquids and acid foods out of your diet. Also, try drinking nothing but milk with your meals. It's not as quick or as good as cod liver oil, but it may help. Let me know what happens. QUESTIONS FROM READERS: Yellow jaundice.
QUESTION: "I have yellow jaundice attacks and cod liver causes my liver to act up. What can I use in place of it?" — S.R. Sargeant, Vista, California
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The man who gave himself arthritis — to prove his cure works.
ALEXANDER: Take a teaspoon of the cod liver oil just once or twice a week to minimize the problem. Also take more of the vitamin B-complex to help repair your liver. Readers who were cured of arthritis.
Arthritis completely cured: May I add that I was so crippled up with arthritis in my knees, I could hardly walk — and since your interview was published, I am completely cured. Following the other dietary advice has made a new person out of me — feel so peppy and great all the time — I'd gladly have paid hundreds of dollars for this educational advice years ago!" — A.J., Hudson, Michigan Fingers not stiff and sore: I've been taking a tablespoon of cod liver oil since the interview telling about it. One benefit I've noticed is that my energy level has shot up. One other thing — my fingers are not stiff and sore in the morning when I awaken." — R.C., las Vegas, Nevada Swelling on ring finger goes away: Because of a slight injury to my left ring finger, I developed arthritis in both joints of this finger. I had the finger X-rayed, and it was given a definite diagnosis of arthritis. Then, after reading your interview, I followed the suggestions of Dale Alexander, whose program really worked. Gradually, the swelling joints became normal and I can now wear a ring on that finger, which, before, was too swollen to accept a ring." — C.L.M., Rio Rancho, New Mexico
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