Positive Health Online

More Gallstone Remedies

In Positive Health No 54 (July 2000) the article by Janet Bevan on Gallstones was published. I would like to add: Among the natural products which help to dissolve gallstones without any surgery is a drink made of shells of coffee beans (roasted or non-roasted). In these shells there is no caffeine and it contains compounds which absorb calcium. This remedy is used in the folk medicine of the Yemenite Jews to prevent atherosclerosis (blood vessel disease) as well as to prevent the formation of gallstones. The drink from coffee bean shells (called Kisher) is prepared by boiling the shells in hot water. It is used also for curing the above mentioned health problems.

Prof. Avshalom Mizrahi
Tel-Aviv, Israel

More on Dry Eye Problems

With reference to the letter from PK Davies in Positive Health issue 54, I too would appreciate more information.

I was told that my dry-eye problem was due to the menopause and would never get better. I began using artificial tears, but developed an allergy to them, which developed into an allergy to preservatives in facial products.

After a year using no commercial facial products, my sore eyes and under-eye skin finally cleared up. I have now found VitalEyes Ultra Sensitive Moisturiser, which I use when needed. (Incidentally, their under-eye cream caused an allergic reaction and may well have begun the whole problem). The product is in individual one-dose phials with no preservatives.

I know several women who have had operations for 'drooping' eye-lids. Is there anything we can do to prevent that?

I love your magazine, it's unique. Keep up the good work.

I hope this will encourage you to focus on eyes problems.

Diane Kendrick

Reflexology Thrown Into Focus

Teresa Lloyd's encounter with the shopkeeper who describes reflexology as 'tickling the feet' (Issue 54) throws into focus the fact that many people are practising a watered-down version of reflexology. One reason is that teachers of reflexology have not necessarily proved themselves as successful practitioners before teaching others. This is all too easy and serves the purpose of achieving high levels of membership at the expense of standards.

Reflexology has a clinical application and many therapists derive great fulfilment through successfully treating people with acute and chronic disorders. They prove that reflexology works and this is the only form of advertising they need.

Mary Martin
Mary Martin School of Reflexology

The International Light and Sound Conference 2000

Reviewed by Primrose Cooper, Chair of Light Sessions

This was a prestigious event. Arranged by Spectrum International Institute for Wellness with the Chicago Medical Society at the Dominican University Illinois June 14-18, it was an awesome assembly of thirty-three presenters, each a specialist presenting the latest research and technology.

The titles of the sessions give some idea of the range: "The Physiological Basis for Biological and Behavioural Effects of Light" (Dr George Brainard of Jefferson Medical College and a NASA consultant on space environments); "The Art and Science of Healing with Sound" (Kay Gardner, composer and international speaker),"Photofrin Therapy for Neoplastic Diseases of the Oesophagus" (Dr Rogers, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago and President of the Mid West Bio-Laser Institute); "The Colour-Coded Nervous System and the Power of Healing" (Dr Steven Vazquez, medical psychotherapist); "Inner Tuning through Luminous Sound" (Sri Shyam Bhatnagar, Founder of SRI – a network of human growth centres in US and Europe); "What is Syntonic Optometry and how does it work?" (Dr Larry Wallace, President of the College of Syntonic Optometry); "The History of Light in Mind/Body Medicine" (Dr Brian Breiling, initiator of the first Light Years Ahead Conference at San Jose in 1992).

There was also Dr Rollin McCraty, Director of Research at the Institute of Heartmath, Boulder, Colorado focusing on stress reduction with computer technology, and Pauline Allen from the UK on "Auditory Integration Training", Sabine Lucas, of the Guild of Psychotherapists and the CG Jung Institute in Zurich on "Dream Transformation with Strobic Colored Light Therapy" and Dr Jeffery Thompson on "Changing Consciousness with Sound".

There were others equally distinguished, and two excellent panels facilitated by Dr George Beranek, President of Spectrum, on "Chronic Pain/Fibromyalgia" and "Depression/ADD/ ADHD" and an evaluation, diagnosis and development of integrated treatment/management plans.

At an Awards Dinner pioneers in work with light and sound were honoured in their absence – Theo Gimbel for light, Guy Berard for sound and Darius Ghadiali for the outstanding research into work with colour against prejudice and self-interest in the USA of his father Dinshah Ghadiali. We also learned of the recent death two months previously, of the retired Chicago banker John Ott who pioneered the link between sunlight and health and developed full-spectrum lighting.

There was an excellent exhibition of technology – Jean Bouchet (from France) demonstrating Holopsony/ Modified Music for Emotional and Physical Health and Mary Bolles (Founder of the Sensory Institute, Colorado) demonstrating her integration therapy by combining three sensory modalities – photo, acoustic and vestibular for rehabilitation of brain dysfunction.

Some of these presenters had come to LIGHT '98 at Reading University – George Brainard, Steven Vazquez, Brian Breiling, Mary Bolles. Currently the LIGHT Trust, now organising a second major conference at Cambridge in 2001, is hoping that we shall see the last three speakers with us there, to be joined, again hopefully by Kay Gardner, Sri Shyam Bhatnagar and Larry Wallace, and maybe others whose submissions could come in by August 31.

For details of Light, Colour and Sound 2001 contact: Dorothye Parker 28 Devonshire Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex P021 2SY.