Macrobiotics Today, January/February 1995, Vol. 35, No. 1
"The Beginning of A New Medicine" Herman Aihara
Last year two major weekly magazines published in the United States declared that the era of antibiotics is ending. I think so too. Here is my thinking on this and our task in the coming year, 1995.
The End of Antibiotics In the cover story of the March 28, 1994 issue of Newsweek, Sharon Begley wrote, "For more than half a century, doctors have been fighting infectious diseases with antibiotics and winning. But scientists who declared victory over TB, pneumonia, and other infectious diseases spoke too soon. The overuse of antibiotics has helped resistant bacteria proliferate dangerously - and now people are falling sick who can't be cured. How will science battle the new strains of drug-resistant bugs?"
The following report on infectious diseases which antibiotics has failed to stop appeared in the Sept. 12, 1994 issue of Time.
1. A Royal Caribbean cruise ship on a trip to Baja California returned early to Los Angeles last week after more than 400 passengers came down with an unidentified intestinal ailment.
2. More than 850 people have come down with cholera in southern Russia, and officials fear the disease could erupt into an epidemic.
3. The notorious flare-up in Gloucestershire, England, of what the press dubbed flesh-eating bacteria alerted people to the dangers of streptococcus-A infections. The common bacteria that causes strep throat generally produces no lasting harm if properly treated, but certain virulent strains can turn lethal. Strep-A infections claim thousands of lives each year in the U.S. and Europe alone.
4. A case of tuberculosis was first detected last year at a high school in Westminster, California, a middle-class suburb of Los Angeles. The disease was apparently brought in by a 16-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who contracted it in her native country. Nearly 400 young people or 30 percent of the school's students, have tested positive for the infection, and at least 12 have a variety of the TB bacterium that is resistant to standard antibiotic treatment. One student has lost part of her lung.
5. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that the children of Cincinnati suffered an epidemic of pertussis (whooping cough) last year. There were 352 cases, compared with 542 cases in the 13 years from 1979 to 1992. The alarming part was that most of the children had been properly vaccinated, suggesting that an unusually hardy strain of the pertussis bacterium might be emerging. Another disturbing statistic: there were more than 6,500 cases nationwide, the largest number in more than 26 years.
The Time article stated, "a generation ago, no one had ever heard of Lyme or Legionnaire's disease, much less AIDS. Back in the 1970s, medical researchers were even boasting that humanity's victory against infectious disease was just a matter of time. The polio virus had been tamed by the Salk vaccines; the smallpox virus was virtually gone; the parasite that causes malaria was in retreat; once deadly illnesses, including diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, seemed like quaint reminders of a bygone era, like Model-T Fords or silent movies.
"The advent of AIDS demolished that thinking. The sight of tens of thousands of young people wasting away from a virus that no one knew how to fight was a sobering experience - especially when drugs proved powerless to stop the virus and the efforts to develop a vaccine proved extraordinarily difficult. Faced with AIDS, and with an ever-increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, doctors were forced to admit that the medical profession was actually retreating in the battle against germs.
Why Antibiotics Don't Work According to Newsweek and Time, abuse of antibiotics and microbial adaptation to antibiotics is the cause of the problem. In Newsweek it stated, "the misuse of antibiotics isn't a new problem. Since the 1970s, various studies have concluded that 50 to 60 percent of all outpatient prescriptions are inappropriate. Other studies have found that 7 in 10 Americans receive antibiotics when they seek treatment for common colds."
Dr. Paul J. Edelson, director of Medical History and Epidemiology at Cornell University Medical College says, "Antibiotics shifted the emphasis in medicine toward acute, crisis-oriented treatments. But the emergence of AIDS, an incurable infectious disease, has caused some doctors to rethink the value of long-term, supportive care. For too long we have framed the relationship of humanity to disease as a war. For the duration of human existence, there will be disease. The doctor can't say, 'I'll only deal with those I can cure.' Doctors will rediscover that the real work of medicine starts when the drugs no longer work."
This is right. What wonderful words I read in Newsweek! However, they don't know that such medicine already exists - macrobiotic practices are such medicine.
Macrobiotic View On Antibiotics Macrobiotic principles discourage the unnecessary use of antibiotic drugs because antibiotic drugs don't cure sickness or make the patient healthier. Rather, antibiotics provide crisis management or temporary relief. Since antibiotics are not curing the real cause of the sickness, the same sickness will come back again. The second time, the infection may be stronger. Therefore, the same antibiotics won't work. The reason for this is simple. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics reduces the important microorganisms which make the antibodies of our immune system. The more we use antibiotics, the more immunity we lose because antibiotic drugs will kill microorganisms in our body such that we lose the ability to produce antibodies.
From the macrobiotic point of view, modern medicine depends too heavily on antibiotics. As a consequence, people are losing their own healing and preventive power. In my opinion, one of the causes of AIDS is the damaged immunity of our lymph system caused by the abuse of antibiotic drugs. Such abuse of antibiotic drugs comes from the concept that microbial organisms are the cause of many diseases. This concept also produces fear of microorganisms, many of which are, in fact, benefactors to human health. The most important shortcomings of modern medical thinking are:
1. Bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms are the cause of diseases.
2. Bacteria, microorganisms, and viruses found in the diseased patients are the cause of the disease.
3. Eliminating those small creatures by any means is the cure of that disease.
4. Man's arrogance, which leads him to think that small, invisible creatures are not valuable for his health.
5. In reality, a human body normally consists of about 100 trillion body cells and the same number of microorganisms. Without those microorganisms, we cannot create enzymes which make it possible for us to process numerous chemical reactions. Reactions that enable us to digest foods, synthesize energy, eliminate waste products, etc. Our body cells are in coexistence with microorganisms. If we destroy too many of those microorganisms, we lose internal balance and our life activities will be compromised. Then our lives are in danger.
Modern medicine is based on such shortsighted, distorted concepts. This is the reason modern medicine cannot find a cure for many chronic diseases such as AIDS, cancer, and Epstein-Barr Virus. If modern medicine does not change this basic concept of microbial life, not only will those diseases continue to be incurable, but more incurable diseases will arise.
The notion of using antibiotics to kill disease-causing microorganisms arose out of trying to help someone who cannot make their own antibodies. However, if we give a patient antibiotic drugs, he won't develop the ability to produce antibodies. He will lose the ability to produce antibodies and become dependent on antibiotics.
Therefore, macrobiotic thinking suggests strengthening one's own immunity so that someone is able to protect themselves from infection without antibiotics. In order to explain how to strengthen immunity, I have to explain what immunity is.
Modern medicine created the concept of immunity according to the view that bacteria and virus are our enemies and we must fight them. Macrobiotic principles look at everything in nature as coexisting. Therefore, macrobiotic practices don't aim to kill microorganisms or viruses. There is no antibiotic medicine in macrobiotics.
According to modern immunology, the terminology used to describe the immune system and its functions sounds much like Defense Department language. However, using macrobiotic principles, the terminology is more peaceful. In order to accommodate two ideas such as modern immunology and macrobiotic immunology, I'll explain two concepts of immunity. One is non-specific immunity and other one is specific immunity.
In my opinion, non-specific immunity is one of the most peaceful jobs carried out by our organs. In other words, our organs maintain a constant condition of our internal environment such as: body temperature, pH of body fluids, amount of body fluids, amount of oxygen, amount of sugar and protein, and especially, conditions of blood plasma, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid. If anything disturbs this constant condition, our organs will try to reestablish this constant. This is homeostasis. Non-specific immunity is part of homeostasis. Non-specific immunity is not a defense mechanism, but our body's wisdom maintaining a constant internal condition and adapting to an ever-changing outside world. The first line of non-specific immunity defenses are the skin and mucous membranes. The second line of non-specific immunity is the blood serum and white blood cells. This second line of non-specific immunity contains the factors which act to destroy microbial invasions.
How Does Non-specific Immunity Work? My concept of non-specific immunity is very simple. Essentially, non-specific immunity involves the dehydration of microorganisms. This dehydration is caused by the osmotic pressure created by the fluid of the white blood cells, lymph fluids, plasma fluids, intracellular fluids, and any other fluids surrounding microorganisms.
(Osmotic pressure is the force created across a semipermeable membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. It results in the passage of water from a region of lower osmotic pressure or solutes concentration to a region of higher osmotic pressure or higher concentration.)
According to the Biology of Microorganism by T.D. Brock, D.W. Smith, and M.T. Madigan, published by Prentice-Hall Inc., 1984, "If solute concentration is higher in the medium than in the cells, water flows out, the cells become dehydrated, and the protoplast collapses, a process called plasmolysis. This is one reason that foods can be protected from bacterial spoilage by curing them with strong salt or sugar solution." This plasmolysis is non-specific immunity. Plasmolysis takes place when a microorganism is subjected to a higher osmotic pressure than it has internally. Therefore, maintaining a higher osmotic pressure in our body fluids than in the bacteria or microorganisms is non-specific immunity.
When we apply this osmotic pressure concept, we can explain why antibiotic drugs are becoming ineffective. In my opinion, the reasons the antibiotic drugs don't work is as follows:
1. People's body fluids such as plasma or interstitial fluids have lower osmotic pressure from drinking excessive amounts of plain water, coffee, soda, refreshments, tea, beer, wine, or other fluids. Those excess liquids make body fluids such as plasma and interstitial fluids thin or result in a lower osmotic pressure. Due to the reduced osmotic pressure, those fluids are not able to dehydrate microorganisms completely (plasmolysis), even with the help of antibiotics.
2. Antibiotic drugs can kill weak bacteria (which have lower osmotic pressure). However, stronger bacteria (which have higher osmotic pressure) will survive. Then such bacteria will multiply. If the use of antibiotics continues, stronger strains of microorganisms will remain and multiply. In this way, each time an antibiotic is used, a stronger strain of microorganisms may remain and finally, antibiotics might not work any more.
3. The way antibiotic drugs strengthen bacteria is as follows:
According to Biology of Microorganisms, most bacteria's solute concentration within the cell is about 10 milli mols. However, according to Guyton's Basic Human Physiology, the solute concentration of plasma or interstitial fluid is about 300 milli mols. In other words, if normal bacteria enter the plasma or interstitial fluid, they are dehydrated and die due to the difference of osmotic pressure (10/300). Normal microorganisms lose their liquid due to the higher osmotic pressure from surrounding fluids such as plasm or interstitial fluid. However, if one drinks too many fluids, eats too much fruit, or eats a no-salt diet, osmotic pressure in the surrounding fluids is reduced. If the osmotic pressure of interstitial fluids remains only slightly higher than that of bacteria, then those bacteria may lose fluid, but not enough to die. The result is bacteria that will survive with a higher osmotic pressure than before. Such bacteria will multiply and become a new strain of bacteria. Having a higher osmotic pressure than the original bacteria, the new bacteria will have more resistance to antibiotic drugs. Repeated use of antibiotic drugs will create a new strain of bacteria which cannot be controlled by the same antibiotic drugs.
In my opinion, all antibiotic drugs are trying to kill bacteria or microorganisms by means of unequal osmotic pressure. Such methods of killing microorganisms are successful at first, however, the same drug will fail later because microorganisms increase their osmotic pressures by the process described above.
The most important components of the non-specific immunity system are blood plasma, some of the white cells of the blood, and lymphocytes. Blood is actually one of our largest organs, accounting for about 8 percent of body weight. Blood is composed of blood fluid (plasma), red cells, platelets, and white blood cells.
Red cells are carriers of oxygen and the plasma is the carrier of nutrients. Immune system function is contained in the plasma and white blood cells. In my opinion, plasma and some of the white blood cells (which include macrophages and granulocytes) are responsible for non-specific immunity.
Most scientists, when asked about immunity, would talk about antibodies and our ability to quickly fight off infections to which we have previously been exposed. However, this kind of immunity is a later development of immunity theory, that is to say, specific immunity, which consists of T-cell mediated immunity and antibody mediated immunity. The universal or more original immunity is non-specific immunity which includes barrier systems, phagocytes, natural killer cells, and interferon.
Modern medicine and scientists are busy trying to find antibody drugs to strengthen T-cells. However, in my opinion, it is non-specific immunity which can prevent infectious sickness and especially AIDS. Therefore, developing non-specific immunity without medicine is the aim of macrobiotics.
Strengthening Non-specific Immunity In order to live without dependence on antibiotics, non-specific immunity must be strengthened. The following is my advice for a diet to strengthen the non-specific immunity for AIDS patients. For the person who doesn't have AIDS, the same diet can be followed, but it can be practiced in a more relaxed way.
1. Eat plenty of complex-carbohydrate foods (50-60 percent of total energy). This will come from mainly whole grains. A cup of miso soup every day will also be good for immunity.
2. Eat whole natural foods. Whole grains, vegetables, and sea vegetables supply plenty of the vitamins needed for digestion, and assimilation of proteins, glucose, and fats. Also, whole foods contain minerals which will help balance one's physical and psychological condition.
3. If one loses weight through muscle, but not from the fat, try to eat white meat fish, about 4 ounces per day, or add 2-3 pieces of dried dashi iriko (dried sardines) in miso-soup every day. This will add the necessary protein. Avoid tofu or beans everyday as they are too yin for AIDS patients.
4. Consume a small amount of oil (1-2 teaspoons of vegetable oil per day, sesame oil is best). If one feels hungry all the time, try to consume a little more oil or eat more grain products such as noodles or mochi. Oil digestion takes a longer time than carbohydrate digestion, so adding oil will help control appetite.
5. Avoid highly processed foods, colored foods, and chemicalized foods containing preservatives, or other artificial additives.
6. The diet which is traditionally eaten in the area you live will be best because that diet will have the power of to improve immunity. Nightshade family foods such as tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes should be avoided because they weaken the immunity.
7. It is very important to use macrobiotic condiments such as gomashio, umeboshi pickles, rice bran pickles, tekka, miso, and soy sauce (shoyu, tamari) regularly, without using them excessively. These condiments contain a good amount of salt in the form of sodium ions which will strengthen the white cells, lymph cells, and body cells and improve immunity.
However, excess use of any condiments will create strong cravings for excess liquid, fruits, sweets, fatty foods, and stimulate a tendency to overeat. Therefore, use them moderately. Sea salt, miso, and soy sauce should be used in cooking rather than added at the table.
Those macrobiotic condiments must be produced using good spring water or underground water and without chemicals, colorings, or MSG.
8. Drink as little as possible. This concentrates the body fluids and increases osmotic pressure, which improves immunity.
9. Vegetables can be eaten cooked or raw. People who have eaten many animal foods, often have very yang and acidic blood. For these people, raw vegetables will be good for alkalizing their blood. Vegetables preferably should be locally grown and in-season. Organic vegetables are advisable.
10. Use an appropriate amount of salt. In my opinion, without an appropriate concentration of sodium in the body fluids, there is no immunity.
Sodium is the most yang alkaline-forming element and it will strengthen the immune system and prevent further complication from infections such as candida, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, AIDS, etc.
11. Avoid sugary foods and sweet drinks, as well as fruit, ice cream, molasses, rice syrup, and honey. These contain simple carbohydrates and can promote opportunistic infections. Even after serious symptoms have subsided, the consumption of fruits should be moderate. Completely avoid alcohol and drugs.
12. Avoid high-protein foods such as animal foods, eggs, chicken, pork and fish because they contain not only a high amount of fat, but these foods may cause cravings for sugar, fruit, and other sweet foods. If you cannot avoid eating animal foods, eat them moderately. If you crave high-protein foods, it is best to eat small dried fish called iriko. This fish contains much calcium so they do not create much acidity.
Beans contain high amounts of protein so it is best not to eat beans regularly if one has opportunistic infections. I recommend azuki beans only, 2-3 times per month. The reason is that beans are very yin and very rich in protein which may promote the growth of infection. However, in a hot climate chick peas and lentils can be eaten once a week.
13. Last, but not least, chew every mouth full very well. Chewing well (50-100 times for each mouth full) has several benefits: You can stop overeating; you can determine good foods from bad because bad food won't taste good as you chew it; you will drink less so that you will improve the osmotic pressure of your white cells and lymphatic fluids.
Strengthening Immunity Psychologically To help strengthen non-specific immunity, we must establish psychological peace of mind:
1. We must understand first that our immunity is strongest when our life is happy and joyous. When our life is not joyous or happy, digestion is not good and we may lack glucose and protein. Thus we may weaken our immunity. When we are not happy or when we have some worry in our life, we will be attracted to the use of drugs or alcoholic drinks. Such attitudes will create more unhappiness, difficulties, and stress.
2. Life is full of meaning, hope, and expectations. In order to be happy and joyous in every day life, one must establish one's meaning of life.
3. Do a proper amount of physical exercise such as gardening or walking.
Strengthen Your Kidneys According to Chinese Medicine, the kidneys are considered part of our sex organs and the seat of our healing power (immunity). The reason that our white cells and lymph cells are able to immobilize microbial organisms (this is called immunity) is due to the fact that those cells contain much sodium. If there is no sodium or too low sodium content in these cells, white cells and lymph fluid will not be able to stop microbial invaders. And that sodium comes from salt. Salt is our immunity. Adequate sodium concentration in the body fluids is the key to non-specific immunity. In order to keep the necessary sodium concentration in our body, we must maintain strong kidneys.
To strengthen the kidneys:
1. Reduce fluid consumption to a minimum, i.e. tea, coffee, plain water, refreshments, alcohol, etc. Drink just enough to satisfy thirst. I drink tea about 2-3 cups of fluid per day. However, if I work in the garden 4-5 hours on a hot day, I will drink 4-5 cups of fluid.
Most medical doctors recommend drinking 4-5 quarts of liquids per day. This is based on a relatively high-fat diet and suggested as a way to thin the blood and prevent heart failure and heart attack.
By drinking less, we can strengthen the kidneys because less fluids will pass through kidneys thereby giving the kidneys a rest. If the kidneys work load is reduced, they will become stronger
2. Do not follow a no-salt diet. Salt is the agent that makes our immunity strong. Without salt, white blood cells and the lymph system cannot control unhealthy microorganisms. Our kidneys maintain the right amount of salt in our body fluids. Too little salt makes the kidneys weak.
3. Apply a ginger compress over the kidneys every day for 20 minutes.
4. Walk barefoot on dew-covered grass in the early morning for 5-20 minutes.
5. Take a salt bath every other day for 20-30 minutes if this doesn't make you tired. If this makes you tired, don't do it. Rest and try again later.
Salt bath: Add 2-3 pounds of water softener salt to 24 gallons of warm, but not too hot, bath tub water. This makes about a 1-1.5 percent salt solution. This solution will create an osmotic pressure higher than that inside of the body and draw out excess body fluids. Then the body fluids' sodium concentration will increase without eating more salt. In this way, a salt bath will strengthen the kidneys. Stronger kidneys will hold more sodium which makes the body fluids' osmotic pressure higher and creates stronger immunity.
Exercise Exercise is important to increase blood circulation so that metabolic waste products of the body are eliminated. However, exercise will increase metabolism also. As a result, the body produces more waste products, which means the kidneys must work harder. Eventually the added stress of heavy exercise may weaken the kidneys. Weak kidneys will result in weak immunity.
After exercising, don't drink too much liquid and never drink fruit juice or sugary beverages. These will worsen infections immediately.
End of Article
Author bio-statement: Herman Aihara is senior teacher at the Vega Study Center in Oroville, California. This article is from a work in progress to be published by the George Ohsawa Macrobiotic Foundation.
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