School of Natural Healing by Dr John R. Christopher
INTRODUCTION:
Dr John Raymond Christopher 1909 – 1983, was an American herbalist and naturopathic physician, known for his numerous lectures, publications and was considered America’s number-one authority on herbal medicine. Creating over 50 herbal formulas, spearheaded the correspondence school, School of Natural Healing and authored many works on herbs, some of which are considered classics in their field.
A youngster with advanced rheumatoid arthritis and a weak constitution he was inspired to become a nature-oriented doctor when he observed his mother receive dietary advice and herbal treatment for diabetes and dropsy by a home visiting doctor, pronouncing “That’s the kind of doctor I’m going to be when I grow up“
A man well ahead of his time; he became the only practicing herbalist in the U.S. Army during World War Two, developing herbal remedies for impetigo, jungle rot, scrofula, eczema, ringworm, shingles, chronic boils with the use of black walnut hulls, which led to creating his Bone, Flesh & Cartilage (BF&C) formulas. From these early experiences he also created one of his famous formula, The Blood Pressure Formula (BPE).
After military service he moved to Canada to study under renowned herbalist Dr H. Nowell at Dominion Herbal College, earning his Master Herbalist Degree thereat. He Returned to America to setup his practice, whilst also securing some side-work; weeding gardens for ready cash whilst he took the medicinal weeds home and realised great use for the plantain weed which he used to relieve blood poisoning resulting from open wounds, developing his INF formula to fight wound infection. He developed several such formulas and was often indicted for practicing medicine without a license. He’s always well remembered by those he helped heal as a grateful humble man who kept a jovial attitude even against persecution for his practice of unorthodox, naturopathic medicine.
SUMMARY OF CONTENT:
The First chapter (Pages 1 to 50) opens with a list of 78 common ailments spread through the opening pages, covering re-occurring symptoms, chronic conditions and some bodily injuries, offering their diagnoses, underlying causes and afflicted regions of the body, it proposes herbal based remediation for using properties of herbs and their specific preparation methods on each page, covering one ailment per page in an alphabetic order, from Abscesses to Yellow Fever. It describes for example; how Abscess is nature’s way of purifying the body, and pus is formed by loss of organic sulphur from the body accompanying cell decay, henceforth, herbs containing organic sulphur such as garlic are used against deficiency. Poultices consisting of various herbal combinations are suggested to draw the pus out.
Asthma, which is purported to be caused by malnutrition and the cough being nature’s method to expectorate mucus from lungs, so as to make it easier to breathe. A tincture of lobelia and a decoction of valerian with some cayenne are suggested to relieve spasms, fomentations of castor oil, comfrey and other herbs are also to be placed on the lungs, stomach and spleen.
The common cold which signals a congestion of catarrh and faulty elimination affecting the circulatory as well as the excretory organs, copious amounts of raspberry tea are suggested and a hot infusion of dried elderberry and dried peppermint leaves.
A deeper unorthodox causal relationship is discussed for all ailments, including chronic conditions like Arthritis; caused by solidified acids and waste matter in the body, to be relieved by enema of slippery elm, sweat bath of pleurisy root, poultices of cayenne combined with other herbs and liniment consisting of cayenne, coconut, lobelia and others.
Hypertension is ascribed to catarrhal and excess glutinous and fibrinous matters loading the circulatory system the use of Black and blue cohosh, boneset, and broom are suggested, including cayenne, peppermint and Culver’s root.
Cholesterol (Page 9), said to be caused a mucus condition stemming from improper foods, cleansing herbs like Bayberry Bark, Brigham Tea, Burdock Root, Ginseng are recommended.
Condition of constipation is mentioned as being caused by highly demineralised and refined foods, use of fruits is recommended; together with the use prune juice and copious amount of water.
Diabetes (Page 16), referred to as a constitutional disease where carbohydrates are not utilised properly due to failure in the pancreas to secrete sufficient insulin, body tissues cannot oxidise carbohydrates, characterised by excessive discharge of urine, sugar in the urine, excessive thirst, hunger, and progressive emaciation. It is advised avoid sugars and starches, meat, milk, eggs, fish, and baking soda and aluminium cookware can aggravate diabetes.
Fresh fruits and seasonal tender greens and vegetables are suggested either raw or cooked at low heat.
Enemas are suggested to cleanse the colon to assist natural elimination of poisons, Together with long hot baths and soaking in the bathtub followed by cold showers. The use of diaphoretic teas is also suggested. Herbs such as Irish moss and slippery elm are nutritive mucilage(s) that soothe while they feed the irritated digestive areas and the use of hot fomentation of castor oil on the spine, stomach, and pancreas to obtain relief.
From the second chapter onwards (pages 51-428) the book describes the functions of different types of herbs extensively by describing the herbs by their astringent, alterative, antispasmodic and nervine, anthelmintic, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant & demulcent, emmenagogue, stimulant and tonic properties. In this section the author also shares the accidental discovery of Lobelia as an emetic by Samuel Thomson.
Fourteenth (Page 429) chapter has rules on gathering, drying, storing and the preparation and formulae of herbs. Important and general information regarding the growth cycles and how some varieties which resemble medicinal herbs can be poisonous, the author recommends to gather wild plants as they contain greater medicinal potency and are more preferable to cultivated plants since these wild herbs grow selectively in a habitat compatible to their botanical virtues.
Fifteenth chapter proposes a cleansing program for purifying the body for healing. The purpose of the program is to eliminate mucus so to simplify healing as mucus is considered the cause of allergies, disease, pain, and death.
CONCLUSION:
Author lays out an excellent foundation for burgeoning herbalists; the book serves as good guideline, which can be resourceful for chronic conditions, it contains thorough details of herbs and their parts, everything from buds, seeds and rhizomes, the book is also a great source of tried and true herbal formulas, cleansing programmes, with a sound advice regarding diet, effective use of spices and caution, e.g., use of laxative herbs is profoundly cautioned against, since herbal laxatives are sold off the shelves due to high prevalence of constipation, and are also recommended in cleansing diets for conditions besides constipation.
Himself a vegan, the author, present this as the best type of diet. He includes all the suggestions that are now ubiquitous, like green juicing and cleansing.
His life story, which is also a part of this book, presents a very engaging account and the difficulties he encountered in practicing unorthodox, naturopathic medicine.
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School of Natural Healing by Dr. John R. Christopher
Christopher Publications
188 S Main St. Springville, UT 84663
Springville / State of Utah
1st Edition / 1976
978-1879436015 / 978-80895570109 / 978-1879436343 / 978-1879436152 / 978-0318156866 / 978-1879436305
https://online.snh.cc/files/2100/HTML/snh_school_of_natural_healing.htm