Bursitis may be caused by stretched muscles, shoes that are too tight, injury such as a bump or bruise, or irritation from calcium deposits found in the bursa wall.  It may also be the result of metabolic inefficiency caused by stress, which prevents proper absorption and utilization of food that is eaten.

Bursitis symptoms include swelling, tenderness, and agonizing pain in the affected area which frequently limits motion.  Treatment involves removing the cause of the injury, clearing up any underlying infection, and possibly, surgically removing calcium deposits.  Other measures include rest and immobilization of the affected part.

Vitamin E has also been found to be beneficial in the treatment of bursitis.  The need for protein and vitamins A and C increases during infection, and extra amounts of these nutrients are required for bursitis victims.

Information obtained for the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne.

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Following these simple steps can possibly improve your chances of staying healthy through this cold and flu season.

Sufficient amounts of protein are vital for healing.  Protein can be synthesized only when adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals are present.  A lack of a single nutrient can delay healing.  Vitamin C is vital for re-forming connective tissue.  The speed of healing is directly proportional to the amount of vitamin C the body has available for its use.  the vitamin is also involved in the forming of new blood vessels at the damaged area and in preventing hemorrhaging.  It detoxifies the body of medications and harmful substances that may form.

Exhausted adrenals can be greatly helped by pantothenic acid.  Vitamins B2, C and pantothenic acid can relive patients who are unable to urinate.  After any injury, 500 milligrams of vitamin C every two hours for several days aids in improvement and reinforces the body’s defense of the stress that occurs from pain, x-rays, medications, intravenous feedings and catherizations.

Vitamin E helps the scarring process and also relieves the itching and pain as scar tissue contracts.  It also protects the cells from destruction by decreasing their need for oxygen.  Vitamin E helps to form new blood vessels at the site of injury and prevents the formation of blood clots.  Proper blood clotting is a complex process and in addition to vitamin E requires many nutrients including calcium and vitamin C and K.

An injured person who is unconscious benefits substantially from an intravenous formula containing all nutrients.  An adequate feeding given to unconscious patients results in healthy skin and hair and later to a quicker recovery.  When poison has been swallowed, vitamin B2, pantothenic acid, and large doses of vitamin C are recommended.  Vitamin E and sufficient protein taken during the following days will also help the liver to detoxify the poison.

Shock that is not treated quickly can result in irreversible damage and sometimes death.  Under-nourished persons are particularly vulnerable to shock.  Vitamin C and most of the B vitamins are rapidly lost.  Investigators studying shock report that when the cells of the body are damaged, their enzymes chemically change from being constructive to being destructive.  They then release histamine, a primary shock-producing substance.  Adequate vitamin C will prevent this transition.  The vitamin will reverse shock occurring in many area of medicine.  Intravenous dosages of up to 120 grams of sodium ascorbate over a 3-hour period keep the body tissues saturated and successfully aid recovery.  When shock has been brought on by sever hemorrhage, 3000 milligrams of vitamin C and 300 IU of vitamin E given as soon as possible can reduce the damage caused by an inadequate oxygen supply of the tissues.

Preparation of surgery should begin at least a month in advance.  Often if the body has been adequately supplied, intravenous feeding may be unnecessary following surgery.  Sufficient protein, all vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes, and acidophilus should be taken.  Adelle Davis recommends that on the eve of surgery, the following be taken:  1000 milligrams vitamin C, 500 milligrams pantothenic acid, 20 milligrams  vitamin B2 and B6, 1000 IU vitamin D, 300 IU vitamin E, and 500 Milligrams calcium.  Physicians have found that after surgery and in the following 24 hours, vitamin C is dramatically lost from the body.  They recommend 10 grams of vitamin C before surgery, 10 grams in each tube feeding bottle after surgery, and 10 grams orally after fluids are discontinued.

Convalescence requires a greater-than-normal amount of all nutrients.  If supplements cannot be taken because of vomiting, vitamins stirred into creams can be absorbed through the skin.  (Injections or surface application of vitamin B6 may relieve the vomiting.)

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne and Roger Williams & Dwight Kalta, eds., in A Physician’s Handbook on Orthomolecular Medicine, p. 56 and Davis, Let’s Get Well, p. 268.

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Muscles are largely made up of protein and essential fatty acids; however, almost every nutrient is involved in their contraction, relaxation and repair.  For example, potassium, very low in diets of high fats and refined foods, is necessary for the contraction of every muscle in the body.  Besides a poor diet, a potassium deficiency can be brought on by stress, diarrhea, kidney damage, diuretics, or cortisone therapy.  The results of insufficient amounts of the mineral are fatigue, gas distention, spasms or twisting of the bowel, constipation, and possibly inability to pass urine.

Vitamin E is essential for the formation of the muscles of muscle cells and of enzymes that are needed for muscular contractions.  A deficiency of the vitamin increases the need for oxygen in the muscles, interferes with the metabolism of certain amino acids, and causes the loss of phosphorus in the urine and the B vitamins by rancidity.  In addition, too much calcium is left to settle in muscle tissue.  Pregnant women often have difficult deliveries because of the lack of enzymes needed for muscle contraction.  A deficiency can also be suspected if a child cannot sit up well at three months old.

Nutrients that may be beneficial in the treatment of muscle weakness:  Vitamin E, Manganese, Potassium, Zinc, Unsaturated fatty acids, Protein and all essential nutrients.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

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Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease characterized by degeneration and hardening of liver cells.  Scarring of the liver tissue causes improper functioning and may result from alcoholism, malnutrition, viral hepatitis or chronic inflammation or obstruction of certain ducts in the liver.

Early signs of the disease include fever, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation and jaundice.  Later symptoms include edema, anemia, and bleeding disorders characterized by the presence of spider-shaped bruises.  A deficiency of the B complex and vitamins A, C, and K may also occur.

Optimal nutrition provides the key to recovery from the disease.  A high-protein diet (1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, or approximately 75 to 100 grams of protein per day) is prescribed to promote regeneration of the liver cells.  In the case of coma, however, protein should be restricted.  A high-calorie (2400 to 3000 calories per day) and high-carbohydrate (300 to 400 grams per day) diet is needed to increase the storage of glycogen to ensure that protein is used for regeneration, and to compensate for weight losses caused by fever.  If nausea is present frequently, small meals are better tolerated than three large meals.

A common complication of cirrhosis is the failure of the liver to make vitamins available in an active form in the body.  For this reason, the diet should be high in the B complex and vitamins A (not in the form of carotene), C,D, and K.  If jaundice is present, special attention should be paid to the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K because some kinds of jaundice interfere with the absorption of these nutrients.  If edema is present, sodium, which causes the body to retain water, should be restricted.  All alcohol should be strictly avoided.

Alcohol greatly reduces the absorption of vitamin B1 and other nutrients.  A deficiency state can result leading to liver injury despite and adequate diet.  A B1 deficiency produces confusion, memory loss, heart irregularities, and gastrointestinal problems.  Damage to the liver from long-term excessive drinking is irreversible; however, further damage can be prevented by abstaining from alcohol, eating a nutritious diet and taking vitamin and mineral supplements.

Information obtained from the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition, Lavon J. Dunne

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Flatulence is the most common digestive disturbance.  Most people have some gas; however, if the gas begins to cause discomfort, it may be an indication of a more complex problem.

Two causes of flatulence are swallowed air and gases liberated by putrefactive bacteria that are living on undigested food.  Both often occur simultaneously.  Excessive swallowing of air can occur while eating or drinking, eating too fast, or eating when anxious or upset.  The air passes into the stomach and becomes trapped in the intestines where it expands and stretches nerve endings, causing discomfort.  Eating too much food overwhelms the digestive enzymes.  The undigested food becomes a breeding ground for putrefactive bacteria which form gas.  Efficient digestion depends upon hydrochloric acid, bile, and other digestive secretions and enzymes.

Other causes of flatulence are milk products (because of a deficiency of lactase, an enzyme necessary for lactose absorption), beans (because several of their sugars cannot be split by intestinal enzymes) and certain vegetables and fruits such as cucumbers, cabbage, and apples; whole grains may also be a problem for some people.  The high fiber in these foods remains undigested, fermenting in the intestine.  Fried foods and the concentrated sugars of dried fruits can cause gs.  (The sugars can be diluted by boiling or soaking the dried fruits.)  If no reason can be found for digestive disturbances, psychological problems may be the factor.

Pantothenic acid has been shown to relieve intestinal gas and distension when there is no physical cause.  The B vitamin aids in bowel motility and efficient digestion.  Without pantothenic acid, acetylcholine cannot be produced.  This chemical transmits messages to nerves that control the motor and secretory activities of the intestine.  Gas pains were relieved in postoperative patients and prevented in others when they were give 250 mg of pantothenic acid daily.

Fermented foods such as yogurt and buttermilk aid in the digestion of high-fiber and other foods by increasing friendly bacteria in the colon.  They are also well tolerated by persons who have a lactase deficiency.  Other foods that may be helpful are lemon juice and cider vinegar.  Carminative herbs stimulate digestion by increasing gastric juices, decreasing the amount of putrefactive bacteria and stimulation intestinal motility.  These include garlic, anise, fennel, and caraway.  Exercise stimulates intestinal peristalsis and helps break down large gas bubbles.

Information obtained for the Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition

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Constipation is a disorder causing decreased frequency of bowel movements resulting in waste matter remaining in the colon and becoming dry and difficult to expel.  Constipation may stem from a variety of causes.  Insufficient muscle tone in the intestinal or abdominal wall due to a lack of exercise; repeated failure to heed the signal to eliminate; or excessive fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, stress or excitement may result in constipation.  A poor diet or a diet lacking in fluids or roughage can bring about constipation.  The continued use of laxatives as a substitute for proper exercise, rest and diet may result in dependency and merely perpetuate the problem.

The more fiber contained in the diet, from fruits, vegetables and whole grain, the softer and the larger the amount of feces will pass.  Foods containing fats may be useful in the treatment of constipation because of their lubricating effect on the mucous walls of the colon.  Other foods that may be helpful are garlic (the allicin in garlic stimulates the walls of the intestines), yogurt or acidophilus, and fruits – especially apples, papaya, pineapple, prunes and figs.

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Information obtained from Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition

A few of the many underlying causes of backache are arthritis, osteoporosis, infection and fever, tumor, peptic ulcer, emotional tension or stress, slipped disc or other spinal cord injury, and disorders of the urinary system.  Muscle strain or sprain as a cause of backache is quite frequent and commonly results from excessive or improper physical exertion, incorrect posture, sleeping on soft beds, or incorrect lifting.  Overweight, flat feet, and unequal leg length are other factors that may be responsible for back pain.

A backache that is accompanied by fever or headache should receive medical diagnosis.  The most painful back malady is the slipped disk.  When a disk or its supporting ligaments become weakened, the disk slips out of alignment and presses against delicate spinal nerves causing pain.

Back pain may be the result of localized tender spots of the muscles called trigger points.  Some physicians inject these sore spots with procaine, killing the pain.  An exercise program is then recommended.  Trigger points and slipped disk can have many of the same symptoms, confusing diagnosis.  Trigger points do not cause reflex or sensory loss, numbness, or weakness, which are common in disk injury.

If the skin itself is sensitive to touch, a condition called fibrositis may be indicated, which my be successfully treated by a pinching massage given regularly over a period of weeks or months.

Backache prevention includes exercise, good posture, proper lifting (by bending at the knees instead of the waist), and avoidance of unnecessary physical or emotional stress or strain.

Numerous treatments, varying according to the exact reason for the back pain, that have helped many people include chiropractic manipulation of the backbone, use of heat and cold penetration, injection of anesthetic-like compounds into the painful areas, application of radio-frequency beams that eliminate nerve pain surrounding a slipped disk, and acupuncture.  Surgery seems to be necessary only in extreme circumstances.

Even in disk cases, exercises that retrain weak muscles can many times adequately improve the condition of the spinal column.  Exercises to firm stomach muscles can relieve the strain of daily exertions placed on the lower back region.  Many back pain sufferers do not have sufficient strength in their muscles to support their own weight.  Again, proper exercise will strengthen and add resilience to weak muscles.

Certain nutrients are essential for maintaining a healthy back.  Protein is necessary for firm supporting tissue.  The B-complex vitamins, especially niacin, provide strength and health for nerve tissues.  Vitamins C and D together with calcium are important in the development and maintenance of bones and nerve function.

Information obtained from The Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition

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Epilepsy is a disease characterized by seizures.  There are two forms of seizures.  A sensory seizure involves only a change in sensation or a loss of consciousness, while a convulsive seizure (convulsion) involves abnormal muscular behavior.  Epileptic seizures are caused by an electrical disturbance in the nerve cells in one section of the brain and may be the result of such factors as head injury or infection, rabies, tetanus, meningitis, rickets, lead poisoning, malnutrition, hypoglycemia, or fever.

Epilepsy occurs in both sexes and at all ages.  An individual may experience only one seizure in his lifetime or several seizures per day.  Factors that may precipitate a seizure are fatigue, overeating or over drinking, emotional tension or excitement, fever, new environmental stresses or menstruation.

The epileptic should maintain a well balanced diet and should avoid taking in excessive amounts of food or fluid at one time because these may bring on an attack.  Alcoholic beverages should also be avoided.  Regular exercise and rest should be encouraged.  If the proper nutrients are given, anticonvulsant drugs can often be discontinued.

Dr. Yukio Tanaka of St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal, Canada, through recent research has demonstrated a link between manganese deficiency and convulsions in humans.  He also states that pregnant women with a deficiency of manganese may give birth to epileptic children.  Pregnant rats maintained on a low0manganese diet delivered young with poorly coordinated movements and a susceptibility to convulsions.

Excellent results have been obtained by the administration of vitamin B6.  If there are no results from this vitamin, its poor absorption may be the reason.  When large doses of  B6 are given alone, the other B vitamins should accompany it, especially vitamins B2 and pantothenic acid, so further harm is not done.  A lack of vitamin B6 and magnesium is closely associated with convulsions, which may often be prevented by an adequate supply of these nutrients in the diet.  Sensitivity to noise, irritability, twitching, and perhaps bed-wetting and tremors are early warning signs of epilepsy.

Information obtained from The Nutrition Almanac, Third Edition.

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Sound travels through three different sections of the ear.  The outer ear passes incoming sound waves to the eardrum located in the middle ear.  The middle ear transfers these sounds through three tiny bones that vibrate a fluid in the cochlea, which is located in the inner ear.  The cochlea has tiny hairs protruding from its walls that relay the sound vibrations as electrical impulses to the brain.  The brain then interprets these impulses as sound.

The quality of hearing is dependent upon the condition of the eighth cranial nerve, located in the inner ear, where sound is transferred to the brain.  Conductive deafness and perceptive (or nerve) deafness are two common types of hearing damage.

Conductive deafness is caused by an obstruction that prevents the transmission of sounds to the inner ear.  Sound may still be sent but distinguishing them is difficult.  Otosclerosis, wax accumulation (cerumen), boils on the ear canal, and ear drum damage are causes of this type of deafness.

Perceptive deafness occurs in the inner ear and the neural pathways to the brain.  Examples of this type of deafness are gradual hearing loss due to aging (presbycusis), congenital problems, Meniere’s syndrome, and damage from drugs, excessive noise, or infectious diseases such as mastoiditis.  A deficiency of the B vitamins in the diet may be a very important factor in perceptive deafness.

In otosclerosis, the tiny bones in the middle ear become hard and overgrown, interfering with sound transmission.  Once the disease occurs, surgery appears to be the only alternative.  However, vitamin A (by injection) has been shown to improve this condition in humans; and in animals, a lack of the vitamin to cause it.

Earwax, or cerumen, is a naturally occurring substance, a secretion forming from sebaceous and sweat glands that are located in the outer section of the ear canal.  The wax is made up of water, fats, and lecithin, and functions as a lubricant and trap of such particles as bacteria and dust.  Its importance should not be underestimated; for example, dust on the eardrum would distort sound, and without lubrication, infections could become serious and even life-threatening.  Cerumen is excreted by the motions of the jaws while eating and talking; it eventually falls out during sleep.  Symptoms of impacted cerumen include tinnitus (a ringing in the ears), earache, reflex cough, dizziness, an echo sensation, and disturbances in behavior seen especially in mental patients.  If the wax if left too long in the ear, it can become a medium for bacterial and fungal growth.  Two major causes of impacted earwax are refined foods, which need little chewing action, and air pollution.  Excessive pollutants build up on the wax, increasing the susceptibility to infection and causing difficult expulsion.

Presbycusis is associated with the aging process.  It is gradual and often not noticed for years.  The higher tones are lost first; eventually understanding conversation becomes difficult.  Because this disease is one of the results of aging, nutrients involved in slowing the aging process, vitamins B and C for example, are important in its prevention.  At a hearing clinic in Alabama, hard-of-hearing patients improved markedly when give yeast and liver (sources of the B complex), vitamin C and glutamic acid.

Exposure to 85 decibels or more for prolonged times can result in ear damage.  Excessive noise contracts the tiny blood vessels in the ear, and repeated exposure progressively increases the time required for them to return to normal, eventually resulting in injury, possibly permanent.  Normal conversation registers at 60 decibels, a loud motorcycle at 110, and rock music amplified to its peak registers at 120 decibels.  Noise level is too loud if a person needs to shout to be hear by someone standing a few feet away.

Excessive fat in the diet appears to collect in the blood vessels of the ear, causing obstruction.  Controlled experiments have been conducted between persons who consumed a high-fat diet and others on a low-fat diet.  The patients on the low-fat diet experienced better hearing.  In other studies, many patients with hearing loss and ear problem symptoms had elevated cholesterol levels, abnormal glucose tolerance (diabetes), and were overweight.  Their hearing was significantly improved by reducing dietary fats and refined foods and losing weight.

Information obtained from Nutrition Alamanac, Third Edition

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