For thousands of years, vinegar has held distinction as a medicinal, culinary and household aid. In 400 ÂÑ, Hippocrates recommended drinking a vinegar solution to reduce symptoms of the common cold. “Thieves’ vinegar” is reputed to date from the 14th century, when thieves would wash with vinegar to protect themselves from the Plague when robbing the homes of helpless sufferers. In America, vinegar has been used since the time of the Revolutionary War to clean wounds.

More recently, vinegar is making a comeback as a medical treatment and a gourmet culinary specialty. Proponents tout vinegar as a cure for all types of ailments, including life-threatening conditions, such as cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease and asthma. Although these claims are false, vinegar is, in fact, a very useful natural medicine.

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Spend time together. For at least five minutes a day, sit or lie together—just the two of you. Cuddle. Talk. Let your bodies synchronize.

Listen more, talk less. Ironically, good relationships involve little talk. Partners communicate via their own private language—subtle body movements, gestures, expressions and a sense of connection that arises only between lovers who grow ever closer as a result of sharing crises.

Do something special for your partner. If you spend your days apart, call periodically during the day and say something like, “Honey, I’ve been thinking about you. I can’t wait to see you.”

If necessary, set an alarm clock to go off periodically to remind you to place the call.

You come to feel love by behaving lovingly, so even the simplest acts of connection can translate to intense sexual feelings.

Have sex only when it feels “right.” Trust your senses. If you rely on your “sex sense” for a month, you’ll soon see that when you do have sex, it is more fulfilling and sensual.

Seduce your partner. Instead of dressing up in a sexy cos-tume—as sex therapists often recommend—use “brain power.”

Send your partner mental “messages” all day long. At night, lie still in bed and send him/her more “sex waves.” You’ll be surprised at how seductive your own brain can be.

Fantasize about your partner. Put on some sensual music and he in bed with your eyes closed. Use your brain—not a vibrator or your hand—and envision yourself making love to your partner.

You may become aroused—even experience orgasm—but mental sex can be surprisingly fulfilling even if you don’t.

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Diet. Exercise. Stress. We have come a long way in understanding how much the way we live affects our health. Recently, another essential term has been added to the mind-body mix—the spirit.

Our awakening to the role that religious faith can play in health and disease raises a big new question. How can this important dimension be integrated into health care?

Dr. Harold Koenig, one of the country’s leading experts in the field of spirituality and health care, answers questions about the relationship between health and spirituality…

Is there scientific evidence that religion is good for your health?

Dozens of studies support the idea that religiously involved people live longer. One Duke University study of more than 4,000 men and women found that religious observance—attending services weekly—reduced the risk of dying over a period of six years by more than 25%.

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dream: As with falling, there are two main types of dreams about flying without an airplane. In one type, you’re having no trouble. In another, you confront problems along the way—perhaps you’re being pursued…must dodge trees…or you forget how to fly midflight.

meaning: Those who dream of flying without problems tend to be highly intelligent people who have outlets for their creativity. They see themselves as going beyond normal limits, and the dreams are an expression of their feelings of achievement.

Flying dreams that feature impediments suggest that there are people, things or parts of yourself that you believe prevent you from putting your abilities to use.

what you can do: If there are difficulties in your flying dreams, reflect on the obstacles you may be facing, but don’t dwell on them. Say to yourself that they may slow you down, but they won’t stop you.

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These poses are especially beneficial if you work at a desk.

Sun pose. Stand with feet together. As you inhale, raise your arms from the side until they’re overhead. Look upward. Exhale as you bend from the waist. Reach as far forward as you comfortably can, and grasp your ankles, calves or knees.

Hold for a moment, then inhale as you return to an upright position, raising arms to the side until they’re overhead. Lower arms in a circle as you exhale. Repeat twice.

Baby pose. Sit on your feet. Slowly bend forward until your head approaches the floor. Let your arms rest at your sides with elbows bent. Hold for at least one minute.

Corpse pose. Lie on your back with feet slightly apart and arms at sides, palms up. Close your eyes. Relax your entire body, paying particular attention to the face and stomach. Rest for at least one minute.

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If you suffer from arthritis or gout you will find the external application of honey a great relief. Add one teaspoon of comfrey tincture or Symphosan to four tablespoons of honey, mix thoroughly in a cup, then heat the mixture in a double saucepan (bain-marie). Fold a cloth three or four times, soak it in the hot honey mixture and apply to the parts where the pain is worst -the hands, elbows, knees and feet. This treatment is best given in the evening, so that you can leave the pack on overnight. In order to retain the heat for longer, place on top of the pack a bag of

cherry stones that have been heated on the stove; a bag of hot hay flowers or camomile will serve the same purpose. Then wrap a warm cloth around everything.

Some patients have been helped by this treatment to the extent that they were once again able to walk or move their hands without feeling any pain. It is worthwhile repeating these honey packs for several weeks until you find relief. If you do not have any herbs at your disposal, honey packs can be made without them. The effect will still be very beneficial, even though it might take longer.

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Herbs that favourably influence the function of organs when taken as teas, tinctures and extracts will also benefit us if we apply them as poultices, as practical experience will prove. Kidney herbs such as Solidago (goldenrod), birch leaves and horsetail, can be crushed or minced and applied raw to the region over the kidneys. This external application will enhance the effect of the same remedies taken internally.

The application of fresh plants will benefit the circulatory and lymphatic systems and ease stagnation in the vascular system. In fact, fresh plant therapy is easy. For example, crushed sorrel, giant dock and rhubarb leaf poultices applied to congestions, bruises, swellings and the like, have an excellent effect. They will dissipate the trouble much better than expensive commercial plasters and ointments. Various leaves found in the garden and fields are suitable, but care must be taken not to employ the leaves of poisonous plants. The leaves of Rhus toxicodendron (poison ivy) can cause a severe rash. Belladonna and other poisonous plants must not be used either. In fact, poisonous plants, it must be remembered, are safe only in the hands of a professional phytotherapist. Other leaf poultices, for example ones made with cabbage leaves, can be applied without having to fear any complications. They are helpful in treating numerous ailments, and if there should be a strong reaction, simply reduce the time the poultices are allowed to remain on the affected area. These poultices are easily prepared and always beneficial.

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Remember, however, bear’s garlic has a piquant flavour and it is better to use it fresh according to the principle ‘You can have too much of a good thing.’ Of course, this guideline applies to all strong flavourings and seasonings. Another spring vegetable is the radish, of which there are several varieties. Use them wisely in accordance with the same principle, for a little is good for the liver, but too much can harm it.

Many people in the country know of another wild salad herb that stimulates the liver – young dandelion leaves. When these are fresh and tender they should be eaten as a salad every day. If we want to avail ourselves of their benefits even during the warmer season of the year, when the plants are already fully grown, bearing flowers and seeds, there is still a way to enjoy dandelion salad. Here is how. On a mild spring day, when the soil is sufficiently moist, lay out a dandelion bed by making deep grooves into which you plant a row of dandelion roots. Lay the roots in such a way that they appear to be like a long rope in the groove. Cover them with garden peat and soil. When the shoots push through the earth, cut them immediately. This method will give you tender dandelion shoots right into the autumn months. Their effect on the liver is marvellous. During our cleansing treatment in the spring we must do all we can to stimulate the liver. Only by doing so can we be sure of success in fortifying one of the body’s most important organs.

Many people are of the opinion that a ‘spring cure’ has fulfilled its purpose when the bowels are thoroughly cleansed. And, it is true, the intestines do have to be paid due attention. Nevertheless, strong laxatives will not benefit them as much as they deserve. Any treatment should not only cleanse or purify, but also build up and heal.

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The fresh plant extract from the stinging nettle (see pages 368-70) is known in homoeopathy as Urtica mother tincture. In addition to glycosides, tannic acids and formic acid, it also contains a good quantity of silica (40 per cent of the ash constituents), the same proportion of calcium, as well as phosphorus, iron, sodium and a little sulphur.

Urtica is a most reliable remedy for arthritic ailments, inflamed joints of a gouty nature, diminished urine with increased sedimentation and bladder irritation.

In such cases, exudation through the skin becomes acrid and is accompanied by an unpleasant odour. This is the result of an insufficient kidney function and may in time lead to a skin eruption that itches and burns, especially at night. For these symptoms, take ten drops of Urtica mother tincture in a glass of water, sipping it during the day. In addition to Urtica, the kidneys can be further assisted with Solidago or Nephrosolid. Take sips of both remedies, alternating one with the other.

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Even snake poison could be made ineffective with it. When someone was bitten by a poisonous snake, he told me, another person would suck the bite until blood began to flow. Of course, the attendant would spit the poison out. Next, the leaves and roots of the plant were chewed up, preferably by the unfortunate victim himself. The juice was swallowed but the masticated plant was applied to the bite and bandaged. This treatment was repeated at least twice, and then repeated again on the second and third day. By the fourth day, the effect of the poison would have disappeared and the victim would be out of danger.

These Indians used to do the same thing to treat injuries. Again, the masticated plant would be placed on the affected part, and a serious situation would never arise provided this plant was on hand and was applied immediately. Certain arrow poisons could be neutralised by the same method. And if one wanted to prevent susceptibility to colds and catarrh in bad and blustery weather, he only had to chew the leaves or roots of the plant. The ingested juice would build up resistance to everything we now call infectious diseases.

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