In the publication of the present edition of DIET, A KEY TO HEALTH, the fifth edition of the text, it is only natural that we should recall that period some sixty years ago when we entered this field of study and investigation, convinced that the practice of dietetics for the prevention and elimination of disease was in perfect accord with the laws of natural science and with the Biblical injunction that herbs, roots, barks, and so on, should be the proper food, i.e., medicine for man. The human system does not generally need drugs(1) for the prevention and elimination of what is known as disease, but which more properly is dis-ease or disharmony of the system caused by some lack or congestion.
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(1) The term "drug" was then understood to be any substance which could not be metabolized by the system, i.e., metallic substances, poisonous substances, even medicines made from poisonous substances. "Medicines" were extracts made from substances that the system could metabolize. This still is the way in which we define these terms.
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It was and still is our contention that the human system can make use of only those substances that can be metabolized, that is, make part of the physical organization. These substances are, therefore, actually foods and can be obtained only from fruits, vegetables, herbs, roots, seeds, and barks.

It was our conclusion that drugs, per se, had no place in the restoration of the ill, except possibly in emergencies. For example, copper arsenate is frequently prescribed in certain forms of gastric indigestion. This substance, being metallic, is not metabolized and does not "cure"; it merely prevents the formation of gas and permits normal digestion of food so that health may be maintained.

We use the term "medicine" rather than "food" in order to dissociate the latter from its more general meaning, that of nourishing the body and maintaining health, and because "medicine" is associated with "curing" in the minds of the laity.

Up to the time of World War I, the treatment of disease by the dominant school of medicine was by means of what was generally termed "drugs" although for the most these drugs were actually natural agents which were converted into tinctures and powders. The Natura physician and dietitian eschewed narcotics and preparations made from highly poisonous substances. It was only during world War I that actual drugs, that is substances made synthetically, began to come into use, replacing Nature's medicines.

Early in the century, a few hardy souls became convinced that the Biblical statement is based on fact and that Nature provides the means for the prevention and the elimination of disease. They then began seriously to investigate the possibilities of their beliefs and in some instances to put their findings into practice. Among these was the author of the present volume, first issued under the title, DIETETICS. In the text we named the mineral elements in food Organic Mineral elements and that which Dr. Casimer Goudiss later named Vitamins we called VITAL elements. Others were Dr. Victor G. Rocine, D.S.C., who devoted his time to the analyzing of all known foods, itemizing their mineral contents, and writing massive texts on his findings; and Casimer Goudiss, who found the active vital elements in food which, as we have stated, he named "Vitamins."

Because neither Dr. Rocine nor Dr. Goudiss were practicing physicians but were engaged in scientific investigation, they did not come under the ban placed upon physicians who both preached the age-old, but now new, doctrine and practiced accordingly, because the idea that foods could prevent or eliminate disease was considered to be pure charlatanism.

Gradually, however, following the publication of DIETETICS, many began to realize that Nature (Biblically, God) could supply practically all, if not all, of the "medicine" needed by man to maintain health if his food were properly selected, combined, and prepared.

To begin with, the few of us who had become convinced that the elements found in food performed a health-preserving and disease-eliminating function for the human body stubbornly refused to continue to follow the mass thought, and kept on with our investigation and experimentation. Naturally, ours was anything but a path of roses for, though we labored only for the welfare of humanity at large, all our efforts were resisted, appetite being one of the strongest human characteristics.

By experimentation we found that the consumption of certain foods caused certain symptoms of ailments and that the use of certain other foods appeared to bring relief and, their use being persisted in, a cure resulted. Step by step we advanced in research and knowledge until we had what we conceived to be a fair foundation upon which to base further procedure.

By 1951 we had a fairly complete working knowledge of which foods to refuse and which to prescribe for patients suffering from certain ailments but did not know precisely WHY the use of one food or class of foods brought about certain results and another food or class of foods certain very different effects. Thus it was at this time that, coincident with our experimental work, we engaged the cooperation of physiologic chemists, analysts, and other experts, and began a systematic analysis of food substances. Concurrently with our findings concerning the elements present in the various food substances, we learned that the lack of certain elements in the body caused specific symptoms to appear and disease to develop; also that a superabundance of any one element would cause the appearance of symptoms, which if not checked developed into various diseases all this depending upon the temperament of the patient and the elements missing or in excess.

These practical observations and discoveries verified our proposition of many years before, namely;

"The human body requires nourishment; it requires certain elements to restore the tissues destroyed by the expenditures of energy and heat. Certain kinds of food serve one purpose, others serve entirely different demands. Therefore, if we wish to preserve the proper balance it is necessary to regulate the food supply to meet the requirements. If you take too much fat into the system, the body is unable to dispose properly of the surplus. It is deposited in the layers of tissues throughout the body, accumulates in the shields of tissue which surround and protect the vital organs, and becomes waste matter which weakens the body.

"Too much acidity has its effects on the system, being taken up by the circulation and carried through the various organs, where it produces a superabundance of bile, uric acid, fermentation in the bowels, and what is known as Acidosis."

All this was and remains true but we did not then know, in terms of exact science, WHY. Just what did a food contain that its ingestion should cause gastric indigestion? Why should one food produce dizziness and pain in one case and remove them in another? The medical world has been confronted with these and allied question ever since medicine was used and except in few instances, it is little nearer the solution of the mystery than in the beginning.

Physicians of the Natura School were not satisfied with Physiological experimentation. They searched for basic causes, Their chemists analyzed the various food substances and found the exact proportions of their composing element - potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, etc. The next step was to determine what purpose in the body each element served, what happened should that element be missing, what results would follow if too great an amount were ingested. As this exact knowledge increased, dietetics became not an art but a SCIENCE, for we had learned how to test the system of the patient to discover what organic mineral elements were missing or were in excess; we already knew what foods contained these elements and in what proportion.

Organized medicine, except in rare instances, had made no such experiments as these. It had been satisfied with having chemists find what active elements were contained in a food, what its alkaloidals were and how to manufacture certain elements synthetically. But it had made practically no attempt to keep the agents as Nature created them, nor to discover what organic mineral elements, important acids and other active principles they contained.

The Natura School is actively engaged in this research work and has knowledge of not a few remedial agents known and proscribed as medicine. At this point we profoundly wish that we had the power so to set forth the case touching even one of these agents that physicians and unversed laity alike might understand the profound importance of this particular line of research.

For specific illustration we have selected Caulophyllum - common name, Blue Cohosh - known to physiccians of practically every school of medicine, more particularly to Electics and Physio-Medicalist. First, let us see what accepted medical authorities have to say relative to this natural agent which we Naturalists claim is in the true sense of application, a food, not a medicine.

"This remedy exerts a very decided influence upon the parturient Uterus, stimulating normal contraction, both before and after delivery. Its first use, in this case, is to relieve false pains; its second, to effect co-ordination of the muscular contractions; and third, to increase the power of these. The first and second are the most marked, yet the third is quite certain. Caulophyllum exerts its influence through the hypogastric plexus; although to some extent it influences every process controlled by the sympathetic. Acting in this way, it influences the circulation, nutrition and functions of the reproductive organs. It may be employed in chronic uterine disease with advantage, especially where there is irritation and uneasiness." --Dr. Felter.

"We have used it often with great apparent advantage, and know of its being used frequently by others, for a few weeks prior to confinement, as a preparatory measure in the important changes which take place at that time. In many instances, where the patients have been invariably the subjects of tedious and difficult labors, by the use of Caulophyllum for two of three weeks before confinement, all the anticipated difficulties vanished, labor was rapid and easy and recovery speedy, when compared with previous confinements. We have employed Caulophyllum to a considerable extent in the treatment of chronic uterine disease; metritis, ovaritis, inflammation of the cervix uteri, leucorrhea, etc. It tends to subdue chronic inflammation, lessens irritability, and give tone to the generative organs."--John M. Scudder, M.D.

"Many women suffer from palpitation, a sense of approaching death from supposed heart failure, all of which are reflex, owing to the disturbed condition of the uterus. Caulophyllum quiets the overtaxed heart and nerves and removes the tormenting symptoms. Caulophyllum is one of our best agents in irritation of the bladder. There is an almost constant desire to pass urine, with only small quantities voided each time. In cramps of the uterus, spasms at the menstrual period, in amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and leucorrhea, it proves and excellent remedy. In hysteria that appears at the menstrual period, it is an excellent agent. For the troublesome conditions that arise during the menopause it will prove of good service. Caulophyllum has no superior in the treatment of those case of general ability so frequently found in women who are down, physically and sexually. and who complain always of pain, heaviness, and weakness in the lower extremities. In some way or other Caulophyllum gives such patients new life."--Samuel J Smith M.D.

John M. Scudder, M.D., agrees with Dr. Felter and Dr. Smith and states further that:

"It may be used with good effects in some nervous diseases, especially in that condition known as asthenic plethora.

"As a remedy for rheumatism it is inferior to the Macrotys, but in some cases it exerts a better influence."

The question of paramount importance to physicians of the Natura School is this: WHY IS THIS REMEDY INDICATED IN THESE AILMENTS OR SYMPTOMS? HOW DOES IT ACT? WHAT ELEMENTS DOES IT SUPPLY?

Good physicians, especially those of the dominant medical schools, will answer that it possesses certain active principles or alkaloids which are to be found in the resins, ether and saponin body, which, when extracted by one means or another, are the medicine, agent, or drug which acts on the system.

We of the Natura School agree that these active principles extracted and isolated become medicines or drugs which have, under certain conditions, a profound influence on the body or various organs. But we are not satisfied to rest here, maintaining that this is not a method intended by Nature and we refuse to accept "established authority" blindly or rest because we have found an agent which, under certain conditions will bring about certain desired results. We therefore investigate - analyze - this simple herb and find that it is not in any way different from any other vegetable, except in its individual organization - in fact, that it IS a vegetable which will supply the body with certain essential or individually required elements.

Under analysis we find that this simple herb, Caulophyllum--known to country folk as blue cohosh--contains the following important organic mineral elements: Potassium Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, silica, phosphorus, and that it is these elements which are metabolized and used by the body in reconstructing its cells and tissues--which gives this herb or vegetable its value, and not the resin secured chiefly from the gum, the ether and the active principle or alkaloids which latter alone are recognized by the medical chemist and upon which he bases his conclusions.

We continue our analysis of this agent by a careful consideration of the purpose for which its elements are used by the body. what deficiencies they supply, and why it is applicable to such variety of symptoms.

POTASSIUM: Potassium, as potassium phosphate, enters into and supports the entire muscular system, as well as all muscular fibers and cells throughout the body. It performs an important duty in physiological chemistry of saponification; in the digestion of fats and protein; the manufacture of red blood corpuscles; in the functioning of the brain; in normal processes of heart and liver. When this element is missing from the system, the heart valves shrink and valvular regurgitation results. Injuries, cuts, and bruises heal more quickly if sufficient potassium and calcium are present. Potassium is required in all processes of the nervous system and in alkalinization of blood and urine.

When potassium is absent, among the diseases liable to result are muscular numbness, weakness, atrophy and paralytic symptoms, ulcers, ailments of the stomach, weaknesses of or falling of the uterus and other organs, various forms of spasms, especially of the generative organs, muscular fatigue or rheumatism, hemophilia prolonged menstruation, weakness of uterus permitting miscarriage, or leucorrhea.

The foregoing are but a few of the uses for the vital element potassium and some of the symptoms that result from its deficiency, and it is readily seen that if Caulophyllum contained no other element besides potassium, this remedy might do all that is claimed for it.

MAGNESIUM: Lungs, brain, nerves, and muscles must have magnesium to function properly. This element promotes excretions, blood fluidity, and maintains normal blood pressure. It helps keep the body fluids alkaline, the tissues elastic, joints flexible, thus preventing such ailments as rheumatism. It acts on the glands serous and mucous membranes and nerves. It helps prevent phosphatic deposits in the joints, as well as congestions. It relieves nerve pains and is soothing to the sexual system, preventing cramps. Magnesium is the indicated agent in diseases of the kidneys, especially if indican and urates appear in the urine, in nervousness, colics and cramps, spasms, nerve disorders, heart palpitation, gastric acidity, disorders of menstruation, such as late or scanty, burning or frequent urination, and lack of nerve or muscular control.

CALCIUM: Essential in the building of the child during gestation, in bleeding tendencies (threatened abortion), in uterine hemorrhages, swelling glands, flabby flesh and muscles, the proper functioning of the heart, inflammation and mucous discharges.

PHOSPHORUS: This element is essential in nerve and brain action. It stimulates the sexual function. It vitalizes nerve, brain, and bone; acts favorably on mucous surfaces, helping to prevent mucous discharges as in leucorrhea; is a reliable agent for prostration during menstruation, numb and weak joints, neuralgia or neuralgic rheumatism, albuminaria, ovaritis, chest cramps or palpitation of the heart, and ailments of the sexual system.

IRON: Iron is the indicated remedy in palpitation of the heart, pains in the kidneys and spleen, hemorrhages, irregularities of pregnancy, irregularities of menstruation, agitation of the heart, lax muscular system, acidity of the stomach of uterus, frequent urination.

SILICA: Silica is essential to all membraneous tissues, ligaments, lining of the organs, uterine walls, alimentary tract. It stimulates both the brain and sexual system. It is an agent required in all sexual weakness, ulceration, suppurations, and weakened inflamed, irritated or ulcerated linings, and in diseases of the testes, ovaries, inguinal and prostate glands, as well as in menstrual colic, involuntary urination, frequent urination due to phosphates in the urine.

Above we have confined ourselves more or less to a description of the various elements only as they are applicable to the remedy under consideration - Caulophyllum - so as to show WHY this agent is indicated in the specific conditions named.

Each one of the organic mineral elements found in Caulophyllum has an influence on the uterus and it will therefore be readily understood why this is such an important remedy in the ailments listed by the medical authorities before quoted. Furthermore, this influence is not due to drug action but purely to the supplying of natural elements requisite to proper body or physical function.

As the science of medicine advances - and by this we mean the practical methods for the prevention and elimination of diseases by the use of agents supplied by Nature - we shall depend more and more on those vital and organic elements selected from the fruit, vegetable, herb, root and seed kingdoms. For as we analyze these and learn just what elements they contain, and as through fecal, sputum, blood, chemical, urinary and bacteriological analysis we increase our knowledge of the needs of the human body, we shall know precisely what elements are required and what foods (or metabolizable agents) contain these elements. All guess work will cease. All the efforts and energies of the Natura School are directed to this goal and we are happy to say that rapid strides are being made. We hope before too long to see the establishment of institutions based on this science in every state in the Union - institutions in which no agent will be prescribed unless it is known just what it contains and unless it is directly indicated.

R. SWINBURNE CLYMER
"Beverly Hall"
Quakertown, Penna.