Experiments With Earth and Water Treatments

With the growing simplicity of my life, my dislike for medicines steadily increased. While practising in Durban, I suffered for some time from debility and rheumatic inflammation. Dr. P. J. Mehta, who had come to see me, gave me treatment, and I got well. After that, up to the time when I returned to India, I do not remember having suffered from any ailment to speak of.

As my life became simpler, I grew steadily more opposed to medicines. While practising in Durban, I suffered for some time from weakness and rheumatic inflammation. Dr. P. J. Mehta came to see me and treated me, and I recovered. After that, until I returned to India, I do not remember suffering from any significant illness.

But I used to be troubled with constipation and frequent headaches, while at Johannesburg. I kept myself fit with occasional laxatives and a well-regulated diet. But I could hardly call myself healthy, and always wondered, when I should get free from the incubus of these laxative medicines.

But while I was in Johannesburg, I often suffered from constipation and headaches. I kept myself fit with occasional laxatives and a carefully controlled diet. But I could hardly call myself healthy. I always wondered when I would be free of the burden of taking laxatives.

About this time, I read of the formation of a ‘No Breakfast Association’ in Manchester. The argument of the promoters was, that Englishmen ate too often and too much, that their doctors’ bills were heavy because they ate until midnight, and that they should at least give up breakfast, if they wanted to improve this state of affairs. Though all these things could not be said of me, I felt that the argument did partly apply in my case. I used to have three square meals daily in addition to afternoon tea. I was never a spare eater, and enjoyed as many delicacies as could be had with a vegetarian and spiceless diet. I scarcely ever got up before six or seven. I therefore argued, that if I also dropped the morning breakfast, I might become free from headaches. So I tried the experiment. For a few days it was rather hard, but the headaches entirely disappeared. This led me to conclude, that I was eating more than I needed.

Around this time, I read about the formation of a ‘No Breakfast Association’ in Manchester. Its founders argued that Englishmen ate too often and too much. They said Englishmen had high doctors’ bills because they ate until midnight. To improve matters, they should at least give up breakfast. Although not all of this applied to me, I felt that some of it did. I ate three full meals a day, as well as having afternoon tea. I never ate sparingly, and I enjoyed all the delicacies available within a vegetarian diet without spices. I rarely got up before six or seven. So I reasoned that if I gave up breakfast too, I might get rid of my headaches. I decided to try it. For a few days it was rather hard, but the headaches disappeared completely. This led me to conclude that I was eating more than I needed.

But the change was far from relieving me of constipation. I tried Kuhne’s hip-baths, which gave some relief, but did not completely cure me. In the meantime, the German who had a vegetarian restaurant, or some other friend, I forget who, placed in my hands Just’s Return to Nature. In this book I read about earth treatment. The author also advocated fresh fruit and nuts as the natural diet of man. I did not at once take to the exclusive fruit diet, but immediately began experiments in earth treatment, and with wonderful results. The treatment consisted in applying to the abdomen a bandage of clean earth moistened with cold water and spread like a poultice on fine linen. This I applied at bedtime, removing it during the night or in the morning, whenever I happened to wake up. It proved a radical cure. Since then I have tried the treatment on myself and my friends, and have never had reason to regret it. In India I have not been able to try this treatment with equal confidence. For one thing, I have never had time to settle down in one place to conduct the experiments. But my faith in the earth and water treatment remains practically the same as before. Even today I give myself the earth treatment to a certain extent, and recommend it to my co-workers, whenever occasion arises.

But the change did little to relieve my constipation. I tried Kuhne’s hip-baths, which gave me some relief but did not completely cure me. Meanwhile, someone gave me Just’s Return to Nature. I forget whether it was the German who owned a vegetarian restaurant or another friend. In the book I read about earth treatment. The author also recommended fresh fruit and nuts as the natural diet for humans. I did not immediately adopt a diet of fruit alone. But I began experimenting with earth treatment at once, with wonderful results. The treatment involved applying a bandage to the abdomen. It was made of clean earth moistened with cold water and spread like a poultice on fine linen. I applied it at bedtime and removed it during the night or in the morning, whenever I happened to wake up. It cured me completely. Since then, I have tried the treatment on myself and my friends, and I have never had reason to regret it. In India, I have not been able to try this treatment with the same confidence. For one thing, I have never had time to settle in one place to conduct the experiments. But my faith in earth and water treatment remains almost the same as before. Even today, I still use earth treatment to some extent and recommend it to my co-workers whenever the occasion arises.

Though I have had two serious illnesses in my life, I believe that man has little need to drug himself. 999 cases out of a thousand can be brought round by means of a well-regulated diet, water and earth treatment and similar household remedies. He, who runs to the doctor, vaidya or hakim for every little ailment, and swallows all kinds of vegetable and mineral drugs, not only curtails his life, but by becoming the slave of his body instead of remaining its master, loses self-control, and ceases to be a man.

Though I have had two serious illnesses in my life, I believe people have little need to take drugs. In 999 cases out of a thousand, people can recover through a well-regulated diet, water and earth treatments, and similar household remedies. A person who runs to a doctor, vaidya or hakim for every minor illness and swallows all kinds of plant and mineral drugs not only shortens his life. He also becomes a slave to his body instead of remaining its master. As a result, he loses self-control and ceases to be a man.

Let no one discount these observations, because they are being written in a sickbed. I know the reasons for my illnesses. I am fully conscious, that I alone am responsible for them, and it is because of that consciousness, that I have not lost patience. In fact I have thanked God for them as lessons, and have successfully resisted the temptation of taking numerous drugs. I know my obstinacy often tries my doctors, but they kindly bear with me and do not give me up.

Let no one dismiss these observations because I am writing them from my sickbed. I know why I am ill. I am fully aware that I alone am responsible for my illnesses. Because I know this, I have not lost patience. In fact, I have thanked God for my illnesses as lessons. I have also successfully resisted the temptation to take numerous drugs. I know my stubbornness often tries my doctors' patience, but they kindly put up with me and do not give up on me.

However I must not digress. Before proceeding further, I should give the reader a word of warning. Those who purchase Just’s book, on the strength of this chapter, should not take everything in it to be gospel truth. A writer almost always presents one aspect of a case, whereas every case can be seen from no less than seven points of view, all of which are probably correct by themselves, but not correct at the same time and in the same circumstances. And then many books are written with a view to gaining customers and earning name and fame. Let those, therefore, who read such books as these, do so with discernment, and take advice of some experienced man before trying any of the experiments set forth, or let them read the books with patience, and digest them thoroughly before acting upon them.

But I must not stray from the subject. Before going further, I should offer readers a warning. Anyone who buys Just’s book because of this chapter should not take everything in it as gospel truth. A writer almost always presents only one side of a case. Yet every case can be seen from at least seven points of view. Each is probably correct on its own, but not all are correct at the same time and in the same circumstances. Many books are also written to attract customers and gain name and fame. So readers of such books should use their judgment. Before trying any of the experiments described, they should either consult an experienced person or read patiently and digest the books thoroughly.