In the natural cure of Rheumatism, the patient should be put on a short fast of orange juice and water for three or four days. While fasting, the bowels should be cleansed in the course of warm water enema. After the juice fast, the patient should be placed on a restricted diet for fourteen days. In this regimen, orange or grapefruit may be taken for breakfast; lunch may consist of a raw salad of any vegetables in season, with raisins, prunes, figs or dates; and for dinner, one or two steamed vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, carrots, turnips, cauliflower, etc., and a few nuts or some sweet fruit may be taken. Thereafter, the patient may steadily commence a well balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits.
In case of chronic rheumatism, the patient may be placed on an all-fruit diet for four or five days. In this course of therapy, he should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches, pears, oranges, pineapples and grapefruit. He may subsequently adopt a well balanced diet. The patient should take ripe fruits and fresh vegetables in abundance. The foods which should be avoided are meat, fish, white bread, sugar, refined cereals, rich, indigestible and highly seasoned foods tea, coffee, alcohol, sauces, pickles and condiments. Raw potato juice is regarded as an exceptional food medication for rheumatism. One or two teaspoonful of the juice pressed out of mashed raw potato should be taken before meals. This will help eliminate an acid condition and relieve rheumatism.
Celery is another useful food remedy for rheumatism. A fluid extract of the seeds is more powerful than the raw vegetable. This also has a tonic action on the stomach and kidneys. Five to ten drops of this fluid should be taken in hot water before meals. Powdered seeds can be used as a condiment. Lemons are also valuable and the juice of two or three lemons may be taken each day. Other helpful methods in the treatment of rheumatism are application of radiant heat and hot packs to the affected parts, a hot tub bath, cabinet steam bath, dry friction and a sponge bath. Hot Epsom salt baths are also beneficial and should be taken twice a week for three months in case of chronic rheumatism and once weekly thereafter. Fresh air, deep breathing and light outdoor exercises are also advantageous. Dampness and cold should be avoided.
