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Page 18
Modern Uses of Echinacea
Foundations of Natural Medicine
The popular use of Echinacea has primarily been stimulated through the 10,000+ health food stores that have become an, integral part of America's communities. The first health food store was opened in the early 1900s by a gentleman named Dr. Benedict Lust. Dr. Lust was a German immigrant who was given up to die from pneumonia. His physicians recommended that he go back to Germany and die with his family. Lust did return to Germany. However, he was put into the care of a monk renowned for his knowledge of healing, Father Sebastian Kneipp.
Not only did Lust not die, but he became one of Father Kneipp's most ardent followers. Kneipp instructed the young Lust to bring his "Nature Cure" system of medicine to America, which he faithfully did. These teachings subsequently became the foundation of today's naturopathic physiciansfully trained medical practitioners who specialize in using natural therapies for the treatment of disease. At the time, Americans were becoming overdependent on refined grains, consumed excessive amounts of animal fats and meat, and were quickly becoming reliant on the newly introduced, highly purified medicinal compounds that the chemical revolution was bringing. Lust had a difficult time finding the supplies he

 
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