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Contents
Sun, air and light form the basis from which all life springs on this planet which we call earth, for without them, there would be no life as we know it now. As Jacob Leberman in his book Light, Medicine of the Future says: "Have you ever wondered why we call the process of profound human evolution 'enlightenment', or why the portion of the galaxy in which we live is called the 'solar system'? Doesn't the term 'solar system' imply that human beings are of, or derived from, the sun? "Why do people frequently make statements such as 'lighten up' or 'You light up my life'? How does 'living in the light' differ from experiencing the 'dark night of the soul'? Is it possible, as renowned physicist David Bohm states, that 'all matter is frozen light'? Could it be that our evolution in some way is related to our ability to take in and utilise light on a spiritual level as well as a physical level?'" The idea of light as an integral part of all life and creation has been evident since the beginning of time. The use of colour to describe our emotions, physical condition or attitude has become a part of our everyday language, such as the phrases, "You look in the pink of condition", and, "I could tell that he was positively green with envy", or, "When I heard her say that, I saw red". And whereas in the past we have tended to think primarily in terms of our physical health when we consider the benefit (or detriment as the case may be, especially with the current attitude to the connection of our bodies' exposure to sunlight and skin cancer), we rarely if ever take into consideration the psychological and spiritual benefits that may accrue from our exposure to sun, air and light. Our lives, health and well-being are truly dependent upon the sun. The electromagnetic waves that are transmitted to the earth by the sun sustain the biosphere in which we live, provide the energy for photosynthesis in the plants, and the growth of trees, as well as being the source of the energy which is released from our fossil fuels. Up until very recent times, that is, throughout almost all of recorded history, man has lived and worked out of doors and been fully exposed to natural sunlight. The onset of the industrial revolution brought about a major change in a large percentage of the population of the industrialised nations, along with the belief that not only was he no longer dependent upon the natural world, but independent, and perhaps even above and superior to it. It is only in relatively recent history that man has been working indoors in factories and offices, or in mines below the surface of the earth, cut off from, or shielded from the natural elements of sun, air and light, in concrete edifices with incandescent or fluorescent light. Not only is the light artificial and lacking in full spectrum wavelengths necessary for well-being, but the buildings we live and work in are often as not air conditioned, and so we are further deprived by our inability to access pure fresh air. We commence each day by rising in our air conditioned, glass-windowed houses, walk to our glass-windowed, air conditioned car, in the adjoining carport or garage, and drive to work and spend the day in our air conditioned office under artificial light, which quite often may not have any windows. If our office does happen to have windows, these will be made of glass which, if it is plain, will reflect the ultraviolet rays and other beneficial rays—and if it is tinted, will further inhibit the transmission of light and beneficial rays. We further exacerbate the problem by the wearing of glasses, both sunglasses and corrective glasses. These further inhibit our ability to absorb and utilise the beneficial solar rays. Dr John Ott, in his monumental work on health and light, has shown from his experiments on humans, animals, and plants, and through his experience with time-lapse photography and the effects of light on the growth of plants, that the human eye is a major area for the absorption of these beneficial solar rays, and that the wearing of glasses of any type detrimentally inhibits the absorption of these beneficial rays to the extent that certain chronic conditions may well develop through their habitual use, and be consequently relieved by the exposure of the eyes to the direct rays of the sun wherever possible, each day. Dr Ott has also delved into the problem of artificial light, and its detrimental effects in the workplace, as well as providing us with the solution to the problem. In addition to the findings of Dr Ott, William Shakespeare pointed out that "The eyes are the windows of the soul." When we observe others, one of the first things we notice about them is their eyes, for through them, as much as any other source of body language, we notice whether they are sad or happy. If they are sad, their eyes will show it, whereas if they are happy, it is immediately visible by the gleam in their eyes. It can well be seen then that it is of prime necessity that we study the beneficial (and other) effects of sun, air and light, and learn how to utilise them to our ultimate benefit, and to minimise any detrimental (if any) effects that could possibly accrue from a lack of understanding and ignorance. In the recent years the sun's effect upon human health has come to be regarded by the medical profession as little more than a placebo. The current medical concept pictures a destructive sun, one responsible for ageing of the skin and capable of causing skin cancer. Dr Zane R Klime, in his book Sunlight, has this to say: "The author became increasingly convinced, as he studied the available research data, that the highly refined western diet plays the leading role, both in the ageing process and in the development of cancer, and that sunlight seems only to accelerate the problem." In other words, Dr Klime is saying that if we removed the cause, and the cause being in his words "the highly refined western diet", we would not be detrimentally affected by the sunlight.
Two History Heliotherapy, or to give it its most common and best known name, sunbathing, antedates recorded human history. Until very recent times man has spent a large percentage of his life out in the fresh air and sunlight, instinctively availing himself of the sunlight in the cool of the day, and retiring to the forest and shade in the heat of the day. Noel Coward so well portrayed the foolishness of modern man of lying in the mid-day sun in his music hall ditty, "Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go Out in the Mid-day Sun". The first recorded instances of sunbathing are to be found in ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, Babylon, Assyria, and Persia. The Egyptians, Babylonians, and Assyrians had their sun-gardens, and many of these people gave the sun the dignity of a god. Akhenoton of Egypt, Zoroaster of Persia, and Hippocrates of Greece were among them. The Greeks had many solariums which they called helioses, and the Greek physician Hippocrates recommended the use of sunbathing, equipping his sanatorium on the island of Cos with a large solarium. The Roman thermae were all equipped with solaria, and the Roman writers Galen, Cicero, Celus, and Pliny tell of their use. Pliny is well known for his remark "Sol est remediorum maximum"—"the sun is the best remedy". The old Germanic tribes employed sunbathing with the epic German poem "Edda", telling us that they carried their sick in the springtime to the sunny slopes in order to expose them to the sunshine. Certain of the Germanic tribes placed their feverish children on the tops of houses in the sunlight, so that they might recover more rapidly. The Incas of Peru employed sunlight in the treatment of syphilis, and in Haiti this treatment is still used. In the Egyptian city of On whose name was later changed to Heliopolis—City of the Sun—the first Egyptian temple was erected to the sun god. In the third century AD, sun worship, or as it was known, Mithraism, came very near to becoming the universal religion. Its similarity to Christianity in every essential aspect made it its chief opponent. The final triumph of Christianity put an end to the practice of sunbathing and for over a thousand years thereafter the use of sunbathing was almost entirely restricted to Jews and Arabians. The Christians referred to sunbathing as a "sin" along with many other hygienic practices. As we have noted elsewhere this included the bathing of the body, which until fairly recent times had ceased to be practiced by the average Westerner. Others of the ancients, including Herodotus and Antyllos, disclosed to us that the "sun feeds the muscles", and the Romans made use of its benefits in strengthening and enlarging the muscles in training their gladiators, to whom they gave sunbaths. And the ancient physicians declared the sun to be "the best food and medicine in the world". In the latter part of the 18th century, when the power of the old dogmatic Christianity was waning, sunbathing was again returned to as a preventative and curative health measure. Waldvogel of Bohemia recommended sunbathing in 1755, although it is believed that he had few if any followers. Le Peyre and Le Comte focused sunlight on wounds and tumours in 1776 with excellent results. In 1779 Bertrano published a series of essays: "Concerning the Influence of Light on Living Organisms". In the early part of the 19th century Cauvin, Dobereiner, Gerard, Harterive, and Bonner carried out numerous experiments to determine the effects of sunlight. The experiments showed so conclusively that sunbathing is of value in treating disease that these men attempted to build a new system of therapeutics based on the use of the sunbath. In 1857, Madame Duhamel at Berck exposed tubercular children to sunshine, believing that it would hasten their recovery. As important as was the work of these early exponents of sunbathing, it was superseded by that of the father of the modern phase of sunbathing, Arnold Rikli, who died in 1907 at the age of 97. Although Rikli was not a medical man, he understood the importance of sunbathing very well and made a greater practical application of this health measure than any of his predecessors. For over half a century from 1855, when he opened his famous sanatorium in Weldes Krai on the Adriatic Sea to provide a "Cure Atmospherique", he prescribed sunbaths. The institution in Austria attracted patients from all over the world, and the rapid recoveries which his patients experienced gave heliotherapy its real origin as a sound basic science. The wide experience Rikli gained in his 52 years of practice enabled him to write seven books on all aspects of heliotherapy, the principle ones being translated into Spanish, French, and Italian, with as yet no translations into English. Loncet, Finsen, and Rollier were most certainly acquainted with his work, whilst F Thedering, MD (Germany), Doctors Liek and A Monteunis, MD (France), and Laurason Brown, MD (Saranack Lake, NY) each gave credit to Rikli. In Europe we also find Dr Lahmann of Germany with his "Sun and Air Cure", as well as Adolf Just of "Jungborn", and in 1872 Bilz at Leipzig. The modern phase of sunbathing had a dual origin—one in Europe, and the other in the United States. In America, the first advocate of sunbathing was Sylvester Graham, who declared in his "Lectures on the Science of Human Life": "If man were always to go entirely naked, the external skin, the anatomical structure and functional character and relations of which we have fully contemplated, would be preserved in a more healthy and vigorous state, and perform its functions more perfectly, and thereby the whole human system in all its properties, powers, and interests would be benefited." In this vanguard of advocates of sunbathing we find Dr Russell T Trall, Dr George H Taylor, Dr Dio Lewis, and Dr James C Jackson, all the leading Hygienists of the 19th century. As a general rule, the experience of all the Hygienists in their use of sunbathing was so successful that all question of doubt as to its place in the Hygienic System was ensured. Arnold De Vries in his book, The Fountain of Youth (1958) writes: "The greatest living exponent of sunbathing is A Rollier, MD, director of the Institute of Heliotherapy at Leysin, Switzerland. Rollier received an excellent medical training and for a time worked with Kocher, the famed surgeon, who attempted to remedy tuberculosis of the bones and joints by surgery. This practice was unsuccessful, at least half of the patients who left Kocher had nothing to look forward to but death. Rollier's best friend committed suicide after Kocher had removed his shoulder joint, knee joint, hip joint, finger and foot to stop the tuberculosis from spreading. Finally Rollier's fiance developed the tuberculosis. Having seen this failure of the great Kocher to remedy this disease, Rollier had nothing to look forward to except the girl's continued suffering, ending perhaps in death. Disillusioned with everything, Rollier tossed aside a brilliant surgical career, left for the hills of Switzerland, and for a time practiced as a doctor among the country folk of that land. But to his surprise they did not need much help, for they were quite healthy and lived to a ripe old age. They were always telling Rollier that "where the sun is, the doctor ain't". Rollier, who became a doctor to tell people how to become well, found himself taking advice from the poorly educated folk of Switzerland. He passed his advice on to his fiance and she followed it. After spending as much time as she could in the bright Alpine sunshine, she was soon fully recovered. From the day of her recovery, Rollier was a devoted disciple of heliotherapy." The first sanatorium that Rollier opened, in 1903 at Leysin, a small city in the mountains of Switzerland, was simply a great solarium with living quarters for the patients. Of the 2,167 patients who were under his care for tuberculosis following World War II, 1,746 completely recovered their health, with the only failures being those in which the disease had entered its most advanced stage. At the same time as Rollier was observing the dramatic beneficial results of treating skin tuberculosis with heliotherapy, a Danish scientist, Niels Finsen, made the first use of artificial sunlight at the Electric Light Works of Copenhagen commencing in 1895. He concentrated on the treatment of Lupus tuberculosis, which had previously been considered as incurable, which resulted in an average of 41 out of every 100 patients being completely cured. Even the most conservative medical authorities had to commend Finsen for his good work, and for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1903. Heliotherapy was used on the Mediterranean in the winter months prior to World War I by such leading exponents as Vidal, Jaubert, Revelliet, Grinda, Cheais, Monteunis, Malgat, Armangaut, and Reboul, for the treatment of TB and nervous disorders. The development of heliotherapy and its use was disrupted by World War I, but it was revived soon after. Zane R Klime, in his book, Sunlight, mentions a book published by P B Hoeber, Inc, in 1933, and authored by F H Krusen, which gave an extensive list of conditions that could be benefited by the use of ultraviolet light, from conditions of the alimentary tract to diseases of the mouth. For the medical profession, the emphasis upon the use of sunlight had been in the treatment of so-called bacterial infections. The discovery in 1939 by Domagk of sulfanilamide treatment of bacterial infections, ushered in the era of the antibiotic, and resulted in solar therapy becoming obsolete. With the development of resistant strains of bacteria and the growing number of people allergic to antibiotics, the wheel has come full circle, with a renewed interest being shown, in some medical circles, in heliotherapy.
Three Sun, Air, and Light Baths In the section on Sunbathing, Volume III, The Hygienic System, Dr Shelton, quoting from Nature's Household Remedies, by Dr Oswald, says: "Life is a sun child, nearly all species of plants and animals attain the highest form of their development in the neighbourhood of the equator. Palm trees are tropical grasses. The python-boa is a fully developed black snake; the tiger an undiminished wild cat. With every degree of a higher latitude, Nature issues the representatives of her archetypes in reduced editions—reduced in beauty and longevity, as well as in size and strength." In his book Sunlight, Dr Zane R Kime says, "All life on earth is dependent upon the sun. It is the source of all light and warmth and most of the energy on earth comes, or has come, from the sun." In describing how this is so, Dr Kime goes on the say: "The direct rays of sunlight that strike this planet sustain the biosphere in which we live. The sun provides the energy for the plant to photosynthesise the products necessary for growth. This energy in then stored in the plant in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to be transferred to animals or humans upon consumption. Similarly, the sun provides the energy necessary for the growth of trees, and it is this energy that is released, in the form of heat, upon combustion of the wood. The sun's energy also provides the fossil fuels upon which we find ourselves do dependent. . . . The energy from the plants and the forces upon them is stored in the fossil fuel to be released upon combustion." Dr G D Babbitt, in his book, Human Culture and Cure, makes the following comment on sunlight: "There is a vast array of forces of every kind, including iron, magnesium, sodium, carbon, and other elements conveyed by the sunlight, but why shall we not take these elements in their ordinary form from our drugstores, and not go to the trouble of taking sun-baths? Because when these elements are given us in so refined a form, as to come directly from the sun as an ether, or to float skywards and be driven to us by the solar rays, they must be far more penetrating, enduring, safe, pleasant, and upbuilding to the mental system than if they were used in a crude form." In a similar vein, Dr Shelton, in his book, Human Life, Its Philosophy and Laws, says: "Sunlight dominates the chemistry of the blood. On a simple natural diet, with sufficient sunlight, the blood will contain all the elements it requires for life and growth. Pills, capsules, and liquid drugs of lime, iron, sulphur, phosphorus, etc, are of no earthly value to the body, well or sick, whether given in the sun or out of it. Nature Curists have for years advocated eating sun-cooked foods. 'Eat the sun's rays' was an expression with them. Recent experiments have shown that their instincts and reason had not led them astray: Plants or animals raised in the sun have better health and more food value. Milk from 'sun-fed' animals contains more vitamins." Dr Shelton goes on to say: "A vitamin is probably not something different from the rest of the food. It is probably not a distinct chemical substance, but merely a peculiar element grouping brought about by the action of the sun's rays, which renders the food, or some part of it, more easily assimilated and used by the body. "Not vitamins alone, but minerals are concerned in this problem. Milk in pasture-fed cows is not only richer in vitamins, but contains much higher percentages of phosphorus and calcium, and fifty percent more citric acid. Cows and mothers can produce perfect milk only when given green foods and exposed to the sun. Young animals fed exclusively on milk from cows fed in the shade on dry fodder lose weight and die. Similar animals fed on similar quantities of milk from cows that run in the pasture, getting both sunlight and green foods, grow and thrive." Arnold Davies reports the findings of the Danish scientist Thorwald Madsen. "Madsen found that, just as the best physical development is attained in the tropics, so also do the people of the temperate zone attain the best health during the summer months when there is an abundance of sunshine. Madsen based his conclusions upon his studies of a 37-year compilation of Danish medical records . . . The statistics provided by Madsen show that disease, particularly infectious disease, occurs most frequently during the seasons in which the people get the least sunshine. Diphtheria, bronchitis, bronchio-pneumonia, and tonsilitis all run to a peak in the winter months and fall into insignificance in July and August. Taking an average of all disease, February was found to be the month most conducive to the development of disease; September was the best month from the standpoint of public health. The conclusion is inescapable. The prevalence of disease corresponds to the amount and intensity of the sunshine. The more sunshine, the greater the resistance to disease; the less sunshine, the lower resistance to disease." Man has been a child of the sun since time immemorial. He has lived and worked out of doors with full exposure to natural sunlight. It has only been in the last two hundred years or so, since the industrial revolution, that this whole pattern has changed, with vast numbers of people being employed more and more in poorly lit offices, and factories, and also to the point of complete exclusion of natural light in underground mines. In addition, we have today in our cities the erection of huge blocks of offices, many of which would best be described as mausoleums due to their lack of natural light, and that if available at all, only after being filtered through glass which does not allow the full spectrum to be transmitted, and almost complete dependence upon artificial sources of light. Dr John Ott, Director of the Environmental Health and Light Research Institute in Sarasota, Florida, and President of John Ott Pictures, Incorporated, author of a number of books on light and its beneficial effects upon our health (including Light and Health), and time-lapse photographer, producer of many of the time-lapse sequences in several of the late Walt Disney's films, such as "Fantasia", "Secrets of Life", and "Nature's Half Acre") writes of his experience with arthritis. He mentions how he tried all the normal remedies, along with those offered to him by his well-meaning friends. And although he spent much time relaxing in the sunlight at the beach, taking great care to wear his dark glasses to avoid eyestrain. He describes his experience in the following words: "The problem of what to do continued to become more acute; then one day I broke my glasses. While waiting for a new pair to be made I wore my spares. The nose piece was a little too tight and bothered me so I took them off most of the time. The weather had been nice for several days, and there was some light work outside that I did as best I could with my cane in one hand. Suddenly I didn't seem to need the cane. My elbow was fine and my hip was not bothering me much, even though I hadn't taken any extra amount of aspirin." Dr Ott then goes on to describe how he and his wife then spent a week on the beach in Florida where he studiously avoided all use of his dark glasses, driving as little as possible to eliminate looking through the windshield, did not watch TV, or go to the movies. He said, "Much of the time was spent sitting under a palm tree where I could read or look out into the open and still receive the benefits of natural sunlight in contrast to artificial light or sunlight filtered through glass." He further says: "The effect on my arthritis was as beneficial as an injection of one of the glandular extracts . . . There was no doubt about it. My arthritis was definitely much better . . . Before the week was up, I played several rounds of golf on a short nine hole golf course and went walking on the beach without my cane. I felt like a new person." Dr Ott goes on to describe the experience of two of his friends when advised that their condition may be improved by the absorption of the beneficial rays of the sunlight through the eyes. One who suffered from hay fever undertook the same regimen and his hay fever vanished. The other, a diabetic who had become almost totally blind, was able in six months to "distinguish different colours, and see enough to follow the vague outline of the sidewalk ahead as he walked to work." Dr Ott, in describing his theoretical basis says: "Light received through the eyes must stimulate the pituitary or some other gland such as the pineal gland, about which not too much is known." As a postscript to the experiences of Dr John Ott, it is of interest to record that after six months "of not wearing glasses, except for what little driving of the car was absolutely essential, and for focusing my projector when showing pictures . . . that the rather strong prisms previously needed to correct a muscular weakness were no longer needed." Upon having an X-ray and physical examination of his hip, ". . . revealed the complete disappearance of a 30 percent restriction of the movement or rotation of the hip joint." Dr Zane R Kime, in his book, Sunlight comments: "If the gross biosphere (the area of the planet in which life is sustained) is so dependent upon the sun, what of the more individual sphere of the human body? Is the human organism itself directly dependent upon the sun?"
Four Sunshine and Health In our society, the current teaching which is commonly taught to each and every one of us from the cradle to the grave, through our schools and all of our teaching institutions, via the media, radio, newspapers, and TV, is that disease is caused by the invasion of germs, virus, and so on—by "a bug that is going around". We are taught to, and subsequently practice, dealing with this invasion by attacking these so-called "enemies" (germs, virus, etc). However, we neglect to comprehend that these so-called enemies are living within, and can be, and are, an integral part of the symbiosis occurring within our bodies, so when we kill them, we also harm ourselves. The fact of the matter is that in reality, micro-organisms don't cause diseases—we do. The micro-organisms are merely another part of the chain of events and the world population, living in harmony with us and dealing with the current situation which is occurring in our bodies, and which we have caused to occur. The contribution of the micro-organism to this process which we call disease is one of many in the chain of events in the restoration of body equilibrium often referred to as homeostasis. In his book, Light—Medicine of the Future, Leberman uses these words to describe this process by which the germ, virus, etc, is involved in the restoration of bodily equilibrium: [It] "is only by way of our invitation. Just as ants don't think of coming into our homes unless there is food left out for them, germs don't come into our bodies unless a door is left open. That door, which opens in response to stress, holds the key to disease prevention. We don't have to focus on killing micro-organisms; we merely need to change our mental, emotional, and physical environments that nutritionally feed them." By the changing of our consciousness, our diets, our lifestyles, which includes our environment, we can so alter the chemistry of our body that it will no longer be under stress, no longer will the micro-organisms require to develop that process which we term "disease" as it works in the restoration of homeostasis. Dr Leberman expresses this change in the following way: "Human relationships are very similar. As we grow and change throughout life, some people leave our circle of relationships and other people arrive. We certainly don't have to "kill" the people we don't want in our lives any more. Instead, clear communication that expresses our feelings and desires usually handles the job. Thus changing our consciousness and actions creates a very powerful effect. If our intent is to live healthful lifestyles, with respect for our feelings, bodies, and life itself, then the various aspects of our experiences—emotional, physical, and environmental—will respond so as to not create environments for disease, but instead, to develop stronger immune systems and increased health . . . "By using light to reawaken the traumatic events residing in the subconscious, these events can be brought to the conscious level and thus dealt with more effectively in a truly deep healing, life-changing way." As we can observe, Dr Leberman is here expressing the very deep and close connection between the psychological aspect of our lives and that of the physical (the action). This aspect underlines the principle which we are continually underlining in this course—"Before we can change things on the physical level, we must first of all change them on the psychological level." The sunlight is composed of many different energy levels which are transmitted as electromagnetic waves. Fortunately for us, not all of these energy waves are able to reach the earth's surface, many being absorbed by the protective layers of the atmosphere that surrounds the earth. If they were able to do so, life as we know it would not be possible. And of the small portion of this electromagnetic spectrum, there is only a very small portion of these that can be perceived by the human eye. The estimation portion is in the region of about one percent of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Of the rays reaching earth, the ultraviolet and infrared rays are those which are best known to us, with the ultraviolet being considered of prime importance. It would be as well for us to note here that it is our considered opinion that all the cosmic and solar rays are of importance to our health and well-being, either directly or indirectly, and that just because we have as yet to be able to scientifically evaluate the beneficial aspects of their presence, or conversely, the harmful effects of their non-presence, does not mean that they are of little or no importance. In the case of ultraviolet light, there has been considerable research over the years, so it is possible to make valid assumptions within this sphere. We do know, for instance, that it is much more readily available to us as higher altitudes. As Dr Rollier reported in his book, Heliotherapy: "The Alpine climate is ideal, having windless places, months of winter sunshine, brief rains, and intensity of rays. A quarter to a third of the rays are lost in the Alps; half in the valleys; and only 14 percent of them reach the atmosphere." We can observe here how these most beneficial rays are filtered out and absorbed by the atmosphere as we descend into the valleys and onto the plains. We must also bear in mind that this observation was made in the late part of the last century and the very early years of this present one, when air pollution was minimal alongside of the prevailing conditions of today. Dr Rollier goes on to say: "It takes 3 hours to kill tubercle bacilli by suns rays at 1560 metres, 4 hours at 903 metres, 5 hours at sea level. The ideal climate for sunbathing has daily sunshine, pure fresh air, is windless, its summer heat tolerable, the winter cold tempered, and no fog." Ultraviolet light is also very readily reflected by window glass, reading and sunglasses, and clothing. The amount that is available to us is also very dependent upon the latitude in which we live, the season of the year, and the climatic conditions. In the more southerly or northerly areas, depending upon whether we live to the north or south of the equator, the less is the availability of the ultraviolet rays. Dr Zane R Kime says: "At 40° latitude, ultraviolet light is available in the wintertime for only about 4 hours (10 am to 2 pm), while the sun is highest in the sky. In the summer, ultraviolet light is available over a longer period of time, from 8 am to 4 pm . . . " It is also important to note that if there is heavy cloud cover during these hours, this in itself can filter most, if not all of these beneficial rays, thus further reducing the availability of them to us. Dr Kime continues: "Single exposures of a large area of the body to ultraviolet light were found to dramatically lower elevated blood pressure (up to a 40 mm Hg drop), to lower abnormally high blood sugars as found in diabetics, to decrease cholesterol in the bloodstream, and to increase the white blood cells, particularly the lymphocytes which are largely responsible for the body's ability to resist disease." Dr Rollier draws our attention to the value of sunlight in the treatment of rickets, something which every mother should be aware of even in this so-called "enlightened" age when young and newborn babies can still be observed shut away from the beneficial rays of the sunlight, to their eternal detriment. Dr Rollier points out how the retention of calcium can be increased by a factor of 4 over and above that which is normal by exposure to the body to sunlight. Weinberger showed that light stimulates growth, which was demonstrated radiologically. Berthold showed that nails grow faster, and Finsen showed that hair grows faster. In his experiments, Hess showed that the phosphate content in blood increases in the summer months with a corresponding decrease in the winter, and that this can be restored by exposure to sunlight. It is of interest to note here that the restoration to normal is greatly affected by dietary factors, particularly avitaminosis. To bring to completion this document on "Heliotherapy and Health", I would wish to present you with two postulates for your consideration. 1. In the case of the so-called bactericidal properties of sunlight, that what we actually are observing is the overall changing of the environmental conditions bringing about a situation whereby the need or necessity of bacteriological or virological action is no longer required. The bacteria or virus, as the case may be, then either die, or leave, or as Bechamp suggests, regain their former condition as microzyma. 2. In the case of the increase in white blood cells, particularly the lymphocytes, that this phenomena has particularly to do with the increased metabolism with its concurrent increase in the elimination of accumulated toxic waste matter, which manifests itself in the above-mentioned way. From Human Culture and Cure by Dr C D Babbitt: "Races whose bodies are sun-exposed know little of disease of any kind. The tremendous strength of the people I have already cited shows that their health must be admirable, even in spite of many irregular habits of living. Syphilis, that bane of the so-called civilised nations, which the physicians are so helpless to eradicate, is unknown among the nude nations unless introduced from abroad. This was the case in central Africa, in Japan, in the Sandwich Islands, etc, as signified by Livingstone, Sir Samuel W Baber, and others. Speaking of one of the nude African races, Livingstone says that when syphilis is introduced among them it dies out in a little while. Sir Samuel Baber says Livingstone is correct in declaring that hydrophobia does not exist in the tropics, and that idiocy and insanity is rarely seen in central African countries. He uses the following language: 'The diseases known among the Babevains (a nearly-nude race) are remarkably few. There is no consumption nor scrofula, and insanity and hydrocephalus are rare. Cancer and cholera are quite unknown. A certain loathsome disease dies out in the interior of Africa without medicine . . . Equally unknown is stone in the bladder and gravel. I never met with a case, although the waters are so strongly impregnated with lime that kettles quickly become encrusted internally with the salt.' "Our false civilisation carried vile diseases to the Sandwich Islands, and then since clothing has been forced upon them and the sunlight excluded from their bodies, they have been dying out until their numbers are said to be only about one tenth of what they once were."
Five Sunlight and Illness It is almost impossible for me to believe that anyone, in this day and age, with all the knowledge we have accumulated, both scientific and empirical, as to the necessity of light for growth, health, and well-being of plants, animals, and humans, that the lack of sunlight could well not be a major causative factor in the production of illness as observed in our society today. That this factor has not been fully recognised and given its rightful place in the restoration and maintenance of health should be considered as one of the major enigmas of our society and its public health services. In Volume III, The Hygienic System, Dr Shelton says: "The evidence is clear from animal experiment and human experience, that if a child receives an abundance of sunlight it will thrive on almost any kind of diet, whereas if you deprive it of sunlight it will not thrive well on the best of diets. Sunlight is one of the most important elements of the natural diet. Every child should have sunlight before birth and after birth. "More than once I have taken children suffering from rickets, who were growing worse on codliver oil and quartz lamp treatments, and seen them begin to make rapid improvement when orange juice was substituted for the codliver oil, and sunshine displaced the lamplight." The benefits of sunlight in the treatment of hardening of the arteries, angina, and related heart conditions have been noted by the earlier researchers such as Rollier and Finsen, yet we still find today others, such as those in Russia showing how effective it is in these conditions as though this was a "new" discovery. Dr Zane R Kime says, in his book Sunlight: "I have seen many patients suffering from angina (chest pain from coronary artery disease) and other symptoms of hardening of the arteries, make remarkable improvement following the initiation of a natural diet and exercise program. It seems that patients who take regular sunlight treatments in addition always make more rapid progress. One seventy-year-old man who was suffering from angina made excellent progress on a natural diet and exercise program alone. He was found able to walk much farther without chest pain and was much happier with his progress. His progress seemed to stabilise, though, after a few months, with no further improvement in his condition. Sometime later he started on a series of regular sunbaths and found that, again, he was able to make rapid progress in the distance he could walk without chest pain. In my experience, sunlight treatments in conjunction with an unrefined diet, and exercise program, achieve faster and more dramatic results than diet and exercise alone." In 1964 Dr John Ott illustrated the ability of light to affect health. In his experiments he showed that mice living under pink fluorescent lights were more likely to develop cancer and reproductive problems. On the subject of cancer and sunlight, Dr Kime says: "When ultraviolet light strikes the skin, cholesterol may be changed into many different products. One of these, cholesterol alpha-oxide, is known to act as a free radical and can cause cancer . . . free radical formation can be inhibited by certain nutrients in the diet." Dr Kime elaborates even further on the connection between diet, sunlight, and the incidence of cancer: "There is little doubt, in the research literature, as to whether or not a high fat diet promotes higher and earlier incidence of skin cancer due to ultraviolet light. Not only skin cancer, but breast and colon cancer as well, seem to be increased by a high fat diet. Increasing the calories in the diet of experimental animals will increase the incidence of cancer; and when the same number of calories are fed to all experimental groups, the animals receiving the most fat develop the most cancer." Dr Jacob Leberman quotes the work of Dr Joan Smith-Sonneborn, a professor of zoology and physiology at the University of Wyoming, who has been doing some ground-breaking research on the prevention of cancer and age damage to cells. He says: "She noticed that the incidence of cancer increases with age, suggesting that the older people are, the greater the likelihood for them to have accumulated the DNA damage that precedes cancer. Using single-celled organisms called paramecia, she was able to demonstrate that old cells do actually show an accumulation of DNA damage. "Her next inquiry was as to whether this damage could be repaired or possibly prevented. . . . She therefore exposed the damaged cells to near-ultraviolet radiation (UVA) and found that the cells not only repaired themselves but also reversed their ageing. "Dr Smith-Sonneborn then wanted to see what would happen if she exposed them once again to UVA radiation. What she found was that the second exposure extended the lifespan of the cells by up to 50 percent, compared with the cells in the control group. Her findings clearly showed that certain types of light are not only capable of assisting cells in repairing their DNA, but also have the ability to stimulate life-extending capabilities within the DNA." In the realm of the so-called infectious diseases which are supposedly caused by bacteria and virus, it has been known since 1877 that the growth of bacteria is enhanced in the shade, or where there is a lack of sunlight, and that they could be killed by exposure to sunlight. Dr Kime records how: "In 1929, Ude introduced sunbathing in America for the treatment of erysipelas (a streptococcal infection of the skin). This had been a disease with a mortality rate of 10 percent and the use of ultraviolet light for the treatment of this disease dramatically reduced its mortality." In his book, The Wheel of Health, Dr G T Wrench records the difference between the Hunzas, who are renowned worldwide for their health and longevity, and the Nagiris, who live on the southern side of the Hunza valley. He writes: "The Nagiris, though facing the people of Hunza, are not of their physical class. By all travellers who write of them this is noted. They are of good physique in the main, by they fail to reach the supreme excellence and energy of the Hunza, which makes so light of the stern conditions in which they live. "It is recorded that in all the little wars that arose between these neighbours, the Hunzas, though less numerous, have invariably won. Even in the games it is the same. Bruce, in 1894, organised various sports and games between Hunzas and Nagiris. The Hunza men won every event. As coolies for mountaineering expeditions, the Hunzas have greatly the superior reputation. They are superb mountaineers and unequalled slab climbers, whereas the Nagiris have no such superlative repute. Nor have the Nagiris the brightness and good humour of the Hunza; they are more sedate and morose. "The Nagiris give as the reason for this difference that in winter, when the sun is in the south, they on the south side of the valley are in the shadow of the great mountains, whereas the Hunzas on the north side enjoy the sun." It is of interest to note here the two points which are of great interest, finally the Nagiris recognition of the part the sun plays in their inferior health relative to the Hunzas, and secondly the Nagiris moroseness. Many researchers have emphasised the necessity of and benefits of sunlight for psychological well-being as well as for physical well-being. Dr C D Babbitt records the story of a factory in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, which employed two-hundred girls: "Those on the sunny side were buoyant in their feelings and would sing, while those on the shady side were silent and sober. Suddenly the position of the girls was changed and the sober girls immediately commenced singing while the others became silent." Sunlight has been effectively used in the treatment of a large array of infectious diseases including mumps, the flu, as well as infections such as those experienced in childbirth, blood poisoning, viral pneumonia and bronchial asthma. Dr Kime reports having treated successfully fungal infections of the skin, feet, toes and toenails. Further on the point of psychological health, Dr Leberman quotes J F Carevin, who wrote in 1815: "The influence of light on the morale of man is very powerful. The physician will prescribe sun for the sad and weak. When taken with moderate exercise, it will revive lost courage." As will be noted, we have yet to understand and put into practice this very simple and yet most effective method for the treatment of depression, either major or minor. To complete this section, allow me to share with you the story of the American poet Walt Whitman's recovery of his health as recorded by Dr Babbitt: "Twelve years ago I came to Camden to die; but every day I went into the country and, naked, bathed in sunshine, lived with the birds and squirrels, and played in the water with the fishes. I recovered my health from Nature. Strange how she carries us through periods of infirmity into the realms of freedom and health."
Six Sunbathing and Physical Fitness As has been noted elsewhere in this course, sunshine and physical fitness have been equated by ancient historians. Dr Kime says: "Before the time of Christ, men such as Herodotus and Antyllus believed in the beneficial effects of sunlight in promoting physical fitness. They believed that 'The sun feeds the muscles.' The Romans made use of the sun for training their gladiators, for they knew that sunlight seemed to strengthen and enlarge the muscles. "There seems to be conclusive evidence that sunlight produces a metabolic effect in the body that is very similar to physical training." In Volume III, The Hygienic System, Shelton quotes Dr James C Jackson as saying that: "A man who lives out in the sunlight will grow thin in the flesh but full in the nerve. His muscles will diminish, but as they diminish his nerves become increased in size and strengthened, and their action on the muscles is such as to decidedly strengthen these; so that when one comes to look at him and judge of his strength by his apparent bulk, if he does not understand and fully appreciate the effect of living largely in the sunlight, he will greatly misjudge his muscular capacities." It is of interest to note here Dr Jackson's emphasis on the effects upon the body of living in the sunlight causing or enabling the body, at the same time as it increases in muscular strength, to slim down to the point where we may be misled into thinking that there is at the same time a loss of strength, energy, and well-being, when viewed from the orthodox way of equating bulk, that is, body size, with muscular strength, whereas the reverse is really the case. The author has often said that the "top" or as he was often known "gem" wheat lumper, cane cutter, or sheep shearer, was inevitably a relatively small, nuggetty person, and not the large hefty types commonly expected. In his book, Human Culture and Cure, Dr C D Babbitt cites Reverend J G Wood, Uncivilized Races of Men, as writing of the strength of the Dyaks of Borneo, who were in the habit of spending much of their life in the sunlight, and at the same time wearing a minimum of clothing. He says: "The Dyaks (pronounced Dyahs) of the island of Borneo go nearly nude, will walk a white man down, and then seemingly as fresh as ever will take him on their back and carry him by the mile. One of these men, while on a march with some English soldiers, exhibited his strength in a very unexpected manner. The path was a terrible one, all up and down over the slippery hills, so that Chinese coolies who accompanied the party first threw away their rice, and lastly sat down and wept like children. The English sergeant, a veteran accustomed to hard marching both in India and China, broke down at the first hill and declared his inability to move another step under the load which he carried. Mr Brooks, who was in command of the party, asked one of the Dyaks to carry the sergeant's burden and promised him an additional piece of tobacco. The man was delighted with the proposal and accepted it. He was already carrying food for three weeks, his whole store of clothes, one twelve-pound shot, two twelve-pound cartridges, a double-barrel gun, a hundred pounds of ball cartridges, and his own heavy sword and spear. Such a load which would be almost too great for a man walking on good roads, seemed a mere trifle to the agile Dyak, who went lightly and easily up and down paths which the foreigners could hardly traverse even without anything except their own weight. So little was he incommoded that he strapped the whole of the sergeant's kit on his back and worked as easily as if the whole load were but a feather's weight. . . . The native gets over the ground in a manner that is absolutely exasperating to the Europeans who accompany him . . . . The ordinary dress of the men is simple enough, consisting merely of the slight strip of cloth which is twisted around the loins in such a manner that one end falls in front and the other behind". I do not think anyone would question the correlation between sexual health and physical health, their interdependence, and that where one is lacking, so, in fact, will there be a lack of the other. In his book, Light—Medicine of the Future, Dr Jacob Leberman says: "It is widely accepted that all animals living in their natural environment breed on a seasonal basis and that the amount of light they see determines their reproductive status. As a matter of fact, each species has a specific requirement for the amount of light it must see for it to be sexually competent. Since the pineal gland (the body's light meter) secretes melatonin as a way of cuing the organism about environmental light levels, it is obvious melatonin has a profound effect on the reproductive physiology of any number of different animal species and most likely on that of humans as well. It is now recognised that human sexual physiology is influenced by the pineal gland. High levels of melatonin (usually associated with short days) result in depressed sexual physiology (decreased sex hormone levels, slow sexual maturation), while low levels of melatonin (usually associated with long days) have the opposite effect." As our level of health increases, or decreases, according to our exposure to or ability to access sunlight, so our level of sexual competence will increase or decrease accordingly. Dr Kime in his book, Sunlight, comments on energy and endurance as follows: "Fatigue is a common complaint today, but contrary to feelings, more rest may not always be the best answer. As stated previously, a good exercise programme decreases fatigue and increases the capacity for work. Marked improvement in one's endurance and working capacity has also been found to follow sunlight treatments. The fact that sunlight seems to increase oxygen in the tissues undoubtedly contributes to this effect. Another factor may be that glycogen (stored energy for the body) is increased in the liver and the muscles following sunbathing. This would allow for the increased endurance observed." Dr Babbitt further records the following situations regarding observations of indigenous peoples: "The Andaman Islands are in the Bay of Bengal, somewhat east of India. The Andamaners or Mincopies are very small men but powerful and go entirely naked. The paddles of their canoes seem to be ineffective yet the tiny Mincopies, with these simple paddles and seated in a canoe cut by themselves out of a tree trunk, can beat with ease the best oarsmen. Captain Monatt got up several races between the Mincopies and his own prize crew in their favourite boat. In fact, there was never any race at all, the Andamaners having it all their own way and winning as they liked. . . . The sailors were hopelessly beaten although they strained themselves so much that they felt the results for some time afterwards." In speaking of accessing the sun's rays for our benefit and their necessity for the natural regulation of every natural energy of the earth, Professor E B Szekely says in Medicine Tomorrow: "The stratosphere is a great filter of the sun's radiations. I do not think it necessary to say much about the therapeutic value of the sun. The sun is important not only in the form of sun baths, and in the form of local applications of its concentrated rays, but also as a great regulator of every natural energy of the earth. And the other natural elements depend for their value upon the sun. For instance, water without the sun's rays is dead. For therapeutic applications sun-exposed water is always superior. Similarly, the therapeutic value of the earth, which also absorbs solar rays, depends on the sun's rays which it has absorbed and contains. The sun is the regulator, as it were, of all the natural energies of the earth. The air which we breathe has quite a different value if it is full of solar rays to what it has if it contains no solar rays. Thus we see that the therapeutic value of the earth or water depends always on the sun, on its quality and its intensity. We know that the intensity and quality of the solar rays are different at the various hours of the day. If we take a sunbath in the morning the therapeutic value of the sunbath will be quite other than if we take the sunbath at midday, or in the afternoon, or at sunset. We know the spectral analysis of the sun. This divides the rays of the sun into different colours, which, however, do not exist, except relative to our eyes. Instead of the different colours, there really exist different lengths and breadths of radiations, and at the different times of the day the rays of the sun represent different lengths and breadths of its radiations. The angle at which the sun's rays fall upon the earth is different in the morning, at midday, in the afternoon, and in the evening. We know that the force of an energy depends on the angle at which it reaches us and naturally the intensity of the sun's rays is different when it comes to us perpendicularly, to what it is when it comes to us at an angle of twenty, thirty, or forty degrees. Also the sun has a different influence at each season. During the spring the influence of the sun's rays is quite other to what it is in the summer or autumn. The distance between the earth and the sun is very different in the quality and intensity of the solar rays. The sun's rays in spring have a great influence on vegetation; everything begins a new life, everything germinates and grows. In autumn the sun's rays have another influence as we can see from the vegetation. So the intensity and quality of the sun's radiations vary at every time of the day, and in every part of the year, and this oscillation which changes the quality and intensity of the sun also alters the therapeutic value of all the elements of the earth, air, water, and other elements. From this we can see that the periodic, rhythmic, cyclic, changes in the quality and intensity of the solar energies divide the day of the year into various cycles which return rhythmically every day and every year. So it is natural that if we wish to administer the natural forces for therapeutic purposes, we should know well the quality and intensity of the sun and of the solar energies and of the different earthly energies and their effect upon the human organism during the various cycles of the day and during the various cycles of the year. We must measure them, must apply them always according to the changed circumstances. Thus we see that our environment in time consists of rhythmic cycles of the day and of the year, just as our environment in space is the various spheres of the cosmos: the pyrosphere, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the botanosphere, and the stratosphere.
Seven How to Sunbathe Having established the necessity for, and benefits of, exposure of the body to the beneficial rays of the sunlight, the most relevant factor becomes "How To Sunbathe". For most the obvious answer would appear to be to "just go and lie in the sun". And our reply would be that this is not necessarily the right and correct answer as there are many factors that need to be considered prior to doing so to ensure that, aside from the benefits that may accrue, we do not cause ourselves harm. Warning Remember, there is a gross difference between 'sun-bathing' and 'sun-baking'. The former is carried out with due care and intelligence, always resulting in benefit to us. The latter has every possibility, and often does, cause considerable harm, especially in the long term. Most authors when writing upon the subject of the exposure of the body to the natural rays of the sunlight have emphasised the necessity of proceeding with caution. The old Chinese proverb to "hasten slowly" is very appropriate in this instance. Dr George S Weger, in The Genesis and Control of Disease, pp442, wrote: "Sunbathing, like many other practices that become the vogue or have an appeal, is frequently overworked and may result in great enervation and consequent harm. There is no doubt as to the benefits of sunshine and fresh air. Both are necessary to life, yet the direct rays of the sun are powerful and in some ways destructive" Factors to Consider Prior to embarking upon a programme of exposure of the body to the beneficial rays of the sun, it is necessary to bear in mind that each individual's sensitivity to sunlight will vary according to the following factors: l. Age, 2. State of health at the time the sunbathing is to commence, 3. Whether the individual is blonde, redheaded, or brunette; and 4. How much time has previously been habitually spent in the sunlight or outdoors prior to the commencement of the sunbathing. Both the aged and those in a state of ill-health will be far more sensitive to the rays of the sun than those who are healthy and vigorous, and must take much greater care, especially at the outset. Similar limitations apply to those who are either blonde or redheaded, with the redheaded being particularly susceptible to over-exposure. Dr Zane R. Kime writes in this regard, Sunlight, pp238: "Generally blonde and red-haired people need to begin with brief exposures to sunlight, and they will require less total sunlight than do brunettes, because the light can pass more readily through lighter skin." Anyone whether blonde, brunette or redhead should give due consideration to the amount of time that they have previously spent outdoors in the fresh air and sunlight prior to embarking upon a programme of sunbathing. If this has been of short duration involving little prior exposure, such as one who habitually works in an office, drives to work in a car, and whose only exposure to the natural elements is for a brief period on weekends, then exposure must be brief and taken with care at the commencement, being gradually extended over a much longer period of time than for those whose occupations have enabled them to spend more time in the fresh air and sunlight. For those who habitually live and work outdoors, and whose bodies are being continually exposed to the natural elements including sunlight, there is usually no need to consider these factors. As the majority of people in the civilised world of today live and work in conditions that do not allow sufficient natural exposure to the natural sunlight, it is necessary for them to make every effort to do so. Dr Herbert M. Shelton writing in Human life it's philosophy and laws, pp303, says: "Originally the blonde races were perfectly adapted to the climate in those regions of the earth which they inhabit. But the wearing of clothes and remaining of much of our time indoors has served to break down and weaken our natural protection. For this reason extreme care must be exercised in giving sunbaths to those unaccustomed to them, if we are to avoid injury. For there is a danger of not only 'burning' the body but of over-stimulating the vital functions. The so-called brunettes are able to withstand more sunlight than the so-called blondes." When to Sunbathe Generally speaking, sunbathing in the morning hours is more beneficial sunbathing in the afternoon. This is because the ultraviolet rays, which are those from which we gain the most benefit, predominate in the morning. In the afternoon it is the infrared rays—that produce heat—which predominate. In his book, Sunlight, Dr Kane R. Zime writes, pp238: 'The time of day that one is able to sunbathe is important, because as the sun rises higher in the sky, more ultraviolet rays become available." Summer In the summer it is always best to sunbathe in the early hours when the heat is less, than at midday when it at its hottest. Noel Coward put it very succinctly when he wrote, 'mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'. You will notice that both wild and domestic animals are active in the early morning sun, and retire to the shade in the heat of the day. Dr Herbert M Shelton, writing in Human life its philosophy and laws, pp303, says: "Weariness, fever, headache, inflamed skin, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and such result from too much exposure or exposure to the hot midday sun, and are not desirable. This is the chief reason why the early morning hours of summer are better for the sunbath than midday, a thing observed instinctively by animals, birds, plants and so-called savage man." In accord with this principle Dr Zane R Kime, in his book Sunlight, writes, pp 238: "During the summer it's preferable to sunbathe earlier in the day while the air is cooler, because sunbathing can become uncomfortable as well as dangerous during the heat of the day." Winter The time for sunbathing varies considerably between winter and summer. As we have already noted, in the summer time the avoidance of the midday sun is universal. In the winter, especially in the more northerly, or southerly climes, the benefit and magnitude of the sunlight peaks towards midday. Professor E B Szekely writing in Medicine tomorrow, pp292, says: "In cold climates and in cold seasons, do the exercise and sunbathing at midday when the sun is strongest." In the colder climates it is necessary to bear in mind that, although it is light and the sun is above the horizon, the beneficial rays do not manifest themselves till much later in the day. Hence the necessity for the sunbath to be taken when maximum benefit is available, around the middle of the day. Dr Zane R Kime, Sunlight, pp238, writes: "Especially during the winter months (when the sun is low), sunbathing early or late in the day will not be very effective. Jogging in the early morning or evening will give some exercise and fresh air, but will miss the sun's healing rays." Variation According to Location Not only will the time of day for sunbathing vary according to whether it is summer or winter, but it will also vary according to our individual location on earth. Dr Zane R Kime, Sunlight, pp 238, writes: "The beneficial rays of the sun vary not only according to the time of the day, but also according to the location on earth." Time and Duration There are a number of factors affecting the time and duration of the sunbath, some of which we have already referred to. They are: 1. Location on earth (elevation and latitude) 2. Season of the year 3. Time of day 4. Surrounding environment 5. Type of skin Reflecting Surfaces Another major factor, often overlooked, that should be taken into consideration when assessing the length of time to be taken for sunbathing, is that of reflecting surfaces. Dr Zane R Kime is the only author I have discovered who has referred to the effects of reflecting surfaces, Yet it is a vital consideration, especially when sunbathing at the beach and on sand. Dr Zime writes, Sunlight, pp 241: "One last important item which concerns the length of time to sunbathe, is the environment where the sunbathing takes place. If one is sunbathing at the beach, he will probably burn in less time than on the lawn." Different environments have different reflecting surfaces for ultraviolet radiation, which is the wavelength that causes burning. Generally speaking, water and grass are at the lowest point, with dry sand being higher, and snow providing the maximum of reflection. Their relative values are as follows: 1. grass reflects 3.5% ultraviolet rays 2. water reflects 3.5% ultraviolet rays 3. dry sand reflects 17.0% ultraviolet rays 4. snow reflects 85.0% ultraviolet rays Elevation Although many factors are self-evident, elevation is rarely mentioned in the literature on sunbathing. The effects of the sun are greatly enhanced with elevation, and burning occurs much faster at an elevation of 1500 metres, say, than at sea level. Duration The length of time that one sunbathes depends on all the foregoing factors. Dr Weger in The Genesis and control of disease, pp 442-443, outlines the following method for progressively increasing the duration of exposure: "Choose if possible the morning hours between ten o'clock and noon. Lie on the back with a cap or other covering on the head. Uncover the feet and legs halfway to the knees and expose for three minutes. Next day uncover the knees and expose for three minutes front and back. Next day uncover the legs halfway to the hips, next day to the waistline, next to the neck, same length of exposure. By this time the upper half of the torso has had only three minutes of direct sunlight, but the feet and lower legs have had fifteen minutes front and fifteen minutes back. "The same procedure should then be repeated taking five minutes for each section of the body. This completed, the third series of exposures may be extended to ten minutes. By this time a protecting pigment should be deposited and the entire body ready for exposure at the same time. One half hour of complete anterior exposure in the nude is usually sufficient. Some persons feel exhausted with shorter periods and some endure an hour or more without appreciable lowering of vitality." I have quoted Dr Weger in full to enable the reader to understand the necessity for great caution, particularly at the outset, when exposing ourselves to the sun. This is especially so for the elderly, and those who are ill. The foregoing quotation by Dr Weger illustrates the care that requires to be undertaken to ensure that no harm occurs in these instances. Always when sunbathing we must use our judgement. If in doubt, too little is always better than too much. As well as being painful, overexposure can be dangerous. If a feeling if languor or weakness persists for several hours after taking the sunbath, the exposure has been too long and should therefore be shortened or discontinued in future. Prof. E B Szekely recommends the following method in his book, Cosmos, man and society, pp378: "When taking the sun-baths always lie with the head away from the sun, so as to have the top of the skull in the shade. First lie for ten minutes on your back and then for ten minutes on your stomach, and later on for double this time in each position. After three weeks' treatment, change your position every twenty minutes, and thereafter every half hour." Covering the Head and Eyes It is of interest to note that most authors advise that the top and back of the head and eyes be protected when undertaking a sunbath. One of the few to disagree with this viewpoint is Dr Herbert M Shelton who wrote in Human life, its philosophies and \aws, pp303: "Protection of the head and eyes is usually strongly urged. This is ridiculous. Nature made the head and eyes as she desired them and adapted them to sunshine. Sunlight is actually beneficial to the eyes and hair. Gazing directly into the sun actually improves the sight and aids in overcoming diseases of the eyes. Sunstroke does not result from an uncovered head and eye-strain is not the effect of lack of eye-shades, else would nature have equipped man and animals with bonnets and goggles." It has been the author's experience, that where a person has a normal head of hair, they may safely move around in full sunlight without the necessity to cover the head, with no untoward effects, given that they have followed the guidelines enumerated above at the outset of doing so. If on the other hand they do not have a normal head of hair (ie. baldness), and are sunbathing, it is imperative that the head be protected by covering and by lying with the head away from the sun. Failure to do so may cause stroke, even in mild winter sunshine. K. Lakshmana Sarma, in his book, Practical nature cure, pp. 251, gives the following warning: "The head and face should in the beginning be shaded from the sun until the whole bodily condition becomes attuned to the sun's light and heat, so that there is no upset or injury. Here the policy of non-violence needs to be observed for a considerable time, because life at first is unable to assimilate this unaccustomed food, but would be able to do so after cautious practice which must be gradual." It is interesting to note Sarma's referral to sunlight as having nutritional qualities, this aspect not being referred to by other authors. Sarma continues by advising that the sunbath should be continued at the commencement, 'until a pleasant warmth is obtained'. At a later date it may be continued 'till sweating has begun'. And at a still later date, 'may be kept on for some time after sweating has begun'. He finishes by warning that 'there ought to be no hurry to get well by violence, which defeats the purpose in view'. At all times in the practice of the sunbath, it is much safer to err on the side of too little than too much. With regard to the sunbath and the essential part it plays in an Hygienic and Natural lifestyle, Dr Herbert M Shelton has put it very succinctly in Human life its philosophy and laws, pp.304: "Sunshine is necessary to life in health or disease, just as air or food are necessary. It is a hygienic not a therapeutic agent. Without it the body must inevitably weaken and become diseased. The highest degree of health that is possible to man is not attainable unless sunshine is supplied his body. Sunlight fills an important need in the organism, and when that is done, that is as much as we can get it to do without harm. It cannot take the place of exercise or moderation in eating. It is no substitute for sleep or chastity, for self control or clean living. It has many of the properties attributed to the vitamins but it is not the kind of a vitamin that will enable one to break all the laws of health with impunity. Combine your sunbath with other hygienic regulations and measures, using care not to overdo it." Suntan Lotions and Sunscreens Much emphasis is placed upon the use of suntan lotions or sunscreens for those contemplating exposing their skin to the undiluted rays of the sun. The use of such items, far from protecting the skin, may well cause the very condition from which we are endeavouring to protect ourselves. Researchers are drawing our attention to this anomaly in our health care advice with Dr Zane R. Kime, writing, Sunlight, pp. 245: "PABA, which is finding its way into so many sunscreen preparations, is running into trouble. Researchers have now discovered that the chemical causes increased genetic damage when exposed to sunlight. Damage to the genes and chromosomes composed of DNA is serious because the cells are not able to properly reproduce themselves if their genetic material is damaged. In a recent research paper, Dr Hodges states, 'In this paper we present results which indicate that PABA can increase the formation of ultraviolet induced damage to DNA at wavelengths which are present in normal sunlight'."
Bibliography Babbitt, C D. Human Culture and Cure de Vries, Arnold. The Fountain of Youth (1958) Klime, Zane R. Sunlight Leberman, Jacob. Light, Medicine of the Future Oswald. Nature's Household Remedies Ott, John. Light and Health Rollier. Heliotherapy Shelton, Herbert. Human Life, Its Philosophy and Laws Shelton, Herbert. Volume III, The Hygienic System, Szekely, E B. Medicine Tomorrow Wood, J G. Uncivilized Races of Men Wrench, G T. The Wheel of Health,
Dr Fielder eschews the use of all forms of medication whether they be so-called 'natural' or otherwise, including supplementation. He believes solely in the self-reparative nature of the organism and its ability to heal itself given the necessary care, attention and environment. The only exception being in the case of major trauma where reparative surgery is necessary. Dr Fielder describes the natural approach to healing as being "An Alternative to Medicine, not Alternative Medicine". ISBN 0 9586611 6 2 |
Dr John Fielder,
Osteopath, Chiropractor, Lifestyle Consultant, author, and broadcaster
lives on his 300 acre farm in the hinterland from Cairns in North
Queensland, Australia where he has been demonstrating the principles
of Natural Living and Natural Hygiene for more than 30 years.
During that period he has helped hundreds of people regain their
health, many from so-called incurable diseases, as much by his
own personal example as by the advice he has offered.