The Bible refers to Iyar,the second month of the Hebrew calender, as the month of Ziv, because the radiance [ ziv ] of the sun is at it greatest during this month [ Rabbi Israel Meir Lau: Practical Judaism][translated from the Hebrew edition: הלחה: יהדות למעשה]

So what would fit better then to write about light and eye health this month?

Let's start with a small quotation from the talmud:

גמרא :מסכת יומא פרק אדף יח, ב

......והשחלים וחלגלוגות והביצים והגרגיר (מלכים ב ד לט) ויצא אחד אל השדה ללקט אורות תנא משמיה דר' מאיר זה גרגיר אמר ר' יוחנן למה נקרא שמן אורות שמאירות את העינים אמר רב הונא <המוציא> [המוצא] גרגיר אם יכול לאכלו אוכלו ואם לאו מעבירו על גבי עיניו......

הגרגיר - ארוג"א רש"י]]

First the gemara cites a pasuk from the book of Kings 2 [ 4:39 ]:

"And he went out to the fields to gather herbs [here :eruca is meant]

In short:Said Rabbi Yochanan: why is this called "orot" [the Hebrew plural for lights: or=light]: because it lightens /brightens the eyes. Said Rabbi Huna :who finds "gargir" [eruca] should possibly eat it and if not wipes it over his eyes...........

A female patient [Naomi] was so kind to show me this and asked if anything was known about this plant "orot" and the effect on the eyes.

Let's first state that according to all likeliness this "orot" is eruca sativa known under very many names such as rocket, garden rocket, rucola,arugola,בן-חרדל מצוי

Well,after extensive searching I could find nothing in various herbals about eruca and eye health specifically but discovered that Plinius cites eruca and its benefits on the eyes!

Again by the kindness of another two patients the relevant sentences were translated from the Latin from Plinius [Roman writer who wrote "Naturalis Historia", which has been a leading work for ages]

[leave the English and the Hebrew[

"So pleasant is it when used as a seasoning for food that the Greeks call it "euzomon" [=eruca] (good for sauces). People think that when eruca is ground and used as a treatment for the eyes, clarity [of vision] is restored and that coughs in infants are quieted.........etc

טעמו כל כך טוב כתיבול לאוכל, עד שהיוונים קראו לו עד שהיוונים קראו לו euzomon (מילולית=רוטב טוב) באופן כללי חושבים שרוקט, כתוש קלות, ומוצמד כרטייה לחה לעיניים יחזיר את הראייה לאיכותה המקורית, ושהוא מסייע לשיעול בקרב ילדים בגיל הרך

Eruca belongs to the "brassica" family [cabbage,mustard,broccoli etc] just as watercress [nasturtium officinale]

Today will be able to discuss just a small part of important food[substances] for the eye.

In general it may be said that what is important for the eye is good for ones general health

To just mention a" 2 substances": carotenoids and lutein [which also belongs to the carotenoids [and many more do] : considered to be extremely important for eye health.

The caretenoids [vitamin A belongs to them] from eruca are very well absorbed just as the lutein in watercress is very well taken up and used by the body/eyes.

It is important to know that the absorption of all these vegetables and their important compounds is much enhanced by the use of the a bit of oil,like olive oil.

Olive oil in itself is a blessing for the eyes,as we will discuss in a future leaflet.

By mentioning all these facts we may have explained why eruca was so praised for the eyes in the Talmud,even if Chazal never heard about caretenoids and its likes!

There are some important eye problems I would like to discuss with you such as : macula degeneration,cataract,glaucoma,night vision, diabetic retinopathy etc

Macula degeneration is one of the leading causes of [permanent] loss of vision in the western world at the moment

It’s an age-related degenerative process of the macula. The macula is the area of the retina where you have the best visual acuity.
I will discuss for today just one more eye problem with you: cataract

[you can look up on google what this is: lens clouding]]

Operations for cataract are very successful these days and quite safe.

But if you could try to prevent it,not really preferable?

Fruits and vegetables are also here the "mantra" again, as in all aspects of helth,certainly in eye health.

Especially Bell peppers [in Israel known as Gamba and in Europe known as Paprika][you have them in 3-4 colors and they are also dried available as a powdered spice] have a very protective effect against cataracts as well against macular degeneration

Gamba is also quite rich in vitaminB6 and folic acid. These two B vitamins are very important for reducing high levels of homocysteine which have been shown to be associated with a greatly increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

As gamba is often heavily treated with pesticides try -if possible-to buy organic gamba.

If somebody wants to avoid at the moment an operation of cataract then one may consider also the use of N-acetylcarnosine,which has been shown to be quite spectacular for even improvement from an existing catarat not just only a preventive,

I will discuss in future articles-b"h- more all these issues

How important eggs and spinach are -even for- more advanced macular generation will also be discussed,but if you suffering now from macular degenration then start eating on top of fruits and vegetables, a few times a week also spinach with soft boiled [organic] eggs.

This may save your eyes!

Just to finish for today-after discussing the "orot" of the Talmud:

Why do we say in the Shacharit-morning prayer:[ after bar'chu in the first blessing of the shema] "He who illuminates the eath and those who dwell on it with compassion..........."

This because we are careful with our eyes if we enter from darkness sudenly in strong light[like in the middle of the night when we turn fully on the lights]

This may damage the eyes and porvoke glaucoma [elevated dangerous eye pressure]

Therefore G-d created the sun so that it rises gradually and also sets gradually instead of suddenly..................He who illuminates the eath and those who dwell on it with compaasion

From the Kitzur Shulchan aruch:[siman 32:27]

סעיף כז

לשמור חוש הראיה יזהר מדברים אלו, לא יבא בחפזון בפעם אחת ממקום חושך לאור גדול. ואם צריך ליכנס ממקום חושך למקום אור, יפתח את הדלת מעט ויסתכל באותו אור מועט, איזה רגעים, ואחר כך יפתח יותר ויסתכל גם כן באותו אור איזה רגעים, ואחר כך יפתח כולו. וכן יעשה גם בבואו ממקום אור למקום חושך, כי התמורה מאור לחושך או מחושך לאור בלי ממוצע מזיק לראיה. ולכן ה' יתברך שמו ברחמיו ברא את העולם בענין זה, שהשמש זורחת על הארץ מעט מעט, לא בפעם אחת, וכן שוקעת מעט מעט, ועל זה אנו מברכין המאיר לארץ ולדרים עליה ברחמים, שמאיר לנו ברחמים מעט מעט, ולא בפעם אחת פתאום. אור החוזר מן השמש פירוש שהשמש זורחת על איזה מקום ומשם בא האור, אור זה מזיק לענים, לכן יזהר מלדור בבית אשר כל החלונות רק מצד צפון, כי השמש אינה באה לצד צפון, וכל האור אשר שמה הוא רק אור החוזר. וכן אפילו אם החלונות המה לצד מזרח או דרום או מערב, אם אין השמים נראין מתוך החלונות, כגון שיש כנגדן חומות גבוהות, הרי גם כן האור הבא הוא רק אור החוזר. יזהר מלעסוק בכתיבה או לקרות בספר או לעשות כל מלאכה דקה, באור בין השמשות, וכן בעצם היום כאשר השמש בתקפה. וכן לא ירבה בכתיבה או לקרות בספר באותיות קטנות, ובכל מלאכה דקה לאור הנר בלילה. ההסתכלות הרבה בצבע לבן גם כן מזיק לעינים, ולכן מראה השמים כמראה התכלת, לא לבן, כדי שלא יזיק לעינים. וכן ההסתכלות הרבה במראה אדום צח, וכן באש מזיק גם כן. העשן וריח גפרית מזיקין גם כן, וכן אבק דק או רוח הבא לנגד לעינים, וכן הליכה מרובה ופסיעה גסה, בכיה מרובה כמו שאמר הכתוב כלו בדמעות עיני, והקשה מכולן הוא רוב המשגל, אבל מצות ה' ברא מאירת עינים.

May the coming month be one of real Light to us and to all the nations on earth.

Comments

A few fascinating medical-Pesach issuses.

טובא גריר, פורתא סעיד -ברכות לה ,עמוד ב

A large quantity has an appetizing effect; a small quantity sustains.[Berachot 35b]

It seems strange but a large quantity of wine will stimulate one's appetite, whereas a small quantity will satisfy and keeps hunger away.

Therefore if one drinks wine one on erev Pesach he should drink a larger [not to small] amount] so that he will not suppress his appetite for the seder.

In the journal Science [1982] it was published that an rapid infusion of glucose in the duodenum very much increased the appetite of rabbits and a slow infusion decreased the appetite.

This is may explain the statement of the Talmud.

[Source; insights, a Talmudic treasury by rabbi Saul Weiss]

So for over-eaters: it is clear what to do.

Drink a very little bit of wine before the meal [one or two teaspoons]

[Rambam mishne tora [ chapter 5,halacha 2 ]:

[translation by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, Moznaim publ.corp]

"With regards to these five species of grain: if [flour from these species] is kneaded with fruit juice alone without any water, it will never become leavened.

Even if [flour] is placed in [these] juices the entire day until the dough rises, it is permitted to be eaten [on Pesach], for fruit juice does not cause [dough] to become leavened.

It merely causes [the flour] to decay.

The following are [included in the category] of fruit juice: wine ,milk, honey, olive oil, apple juice, pomegranate juice and all other similar wines ,oils, and beverages.

This applies so long as no water whatsoever is mixed with them.

If any water is mixed with them, they cause [the flour] to become leavened."

Simply, the smallest amount of added water will cause the mentioned grains to become leavened[to become chametz]

It is fascinating to be able to remark here the halacha brought by the Rambam and to relate this to the fact that in traditional medicine [as well in homeopathy] all water is not just water.

Water in fruits is considered to be totally different

from just plain water [ both of them are H2O in chemistry]

In homeopathy water that is shaken very vigorously has found to be different [from the water before it has been shaken] when examined with atom spectrography.

It is as if water has a "memory" [like footprints in the snow, which show-like a memory- that somebody passed there some while ago]

On seder Pesach all of us will remember the leaning on the left side.

[Kitzur shulchan aruch [chapter 71,halacha 5 ]

"It is beneficial to begin one's sleep while lying on the left side, and afterwards to change to the right side.

This is beneficial to one's health, since the liver is on one's right side, and the stomach on one's left. When one leans to the left, the liver will lie on the stomach and warm it with its heat. This will hasten the digestion of the food. After the food is digested, it is preferable to lean to the right, thus allowing the stomach to rest and the wastes to descend. One should not turn frequently from side to side"

Remarkablec that I found in only one medical textbook form 1959 [and in no other book] that the temperature in the liver veins is above 41 degrees!!

Then it becomes understandable that lying on the left side "cooks" the food in the stomach [see above] which means that the speed of digestion is increased significantly!!

Do you know that recently it has been found that people who sleep only one on side have more tendency for kidney stones?

Pesach sameach we-kasher.

Comments

 VITAMIN B6: Can be bought as such or in the more active from-5-P [P5P] which the body can use often easier then B6 itself.

This vitamin has remarkable positive ffects in many conditions and it  is often under-used when it could be helpful.

• In pregnancy diabetes it can help control the diabetes.

• Often very helpful in CTS [carpal tunnel syndrome]

• Patient on all kind of drugs may be lacking B6.

• It is likely that B6 also has an important function in the treatment of various cancers.

• Melanoma is one of them. [see part of article below]

These are just a few facts about B6 .

Many patients will feel better is it is prescribed to them.

Ask you doctor, when and how much to take and for how long.
Very high doses of B6 may cause nerve damage.

Part of article:

Patients with breast , or colon, bladder , or laryngeal  cancers, and or Hodgkin’s disease   have lower plasma PLP levels compared with healthy controls. In vitro studies have shown that
pharmacologic doses of vitamin B6 (from 0.25 to 5 mM) inhibit cell proliferation and protein synthesis in HepG2 human hepatoma cells, human malignant melanoma  and human
lymphocytes . Mice pretreated with pyridoxal followed by injection of B16 melanoma cells had a 62% reduction in tumor weight compared to controls (11). These results suggest that vitamin B6 may have potential use as an antineoplastic agent.

Comments

I don't know if it is a real story [ I suppose it is ], but to nice to withhold from sending it to you.

בכנס של נוירולוגים מכל העולם, שהתקיים בארצות הברית, נדונה התופעה של התעלפויות שמתרחשות בשעות הבוקר, מיד לאחר הקימה מן השינה. פרופ' לינדה מק'מרון נוירולוגית בריטית, נשאה נאום ארוך, בו פירטה את תוצאות המחקר רב השנים שערכה בסוגיה זו. לאחר כל המחקרים, פרופ' מק'מרון הגיעה למסקנה, שההתעלפויות נגרמות כתוצאה מן המעבר החד שבין שכיבה לעמידה. פרופ' מק'מרון אמרה, שלוקח לדם 12 שניות, להגיע מן הרגליים אל המוח. כאשר מתבצעת קימה מהירה, הדם "נזרק" למוח במהירות רבה מידי, והוא מגיב בתגובת שרשרת שגורמת להתעלפות. היא הציעה לכל אדם, גם אם אינו נוטה להתעלף, שלאחר קומו משנתו ישב על המיטה, יספור לאט עד 12 ורק אז יקום.

הנאום זכה למחיאות כפיים ולתגובות נלהבות.

ואז קם פרופסור יהודי, שומר מצוות, וביקש את רשות הדיבור.

וכך אמר: אצלנו היהודים יש מנהג עתיק, בן אלפי שנים, לומר תפילת הודיה מיוחדת לבורא עולם, על שזכינו להתעורר בבוקר בריאים ושלמים. התפילה הזאת נאמרת במיטה, בישיבה, מיד כשמתעוררים. יש בה 12 מילים, ואורך לומר אותה, לאט ובכוונה, שתיים עשרה שניות… בדיוק שתיים עשרה שניות.

וכאן הוא קרא לאט ובהטעמה את:

מודֶה / מודָה  אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ:

I offer thanks before you, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great

שוב רעש האולם ממחיאות כפיים סוערות. הפעם נועדו מחיאות הכפיים לריבונו של עולם

Comments

Copper , together with silver and gold are repeatedly mentioned in the parshiot va-yakhel-pekudei [starting at shemot 35:1]

"Take from among you a donation for G-d, let
every generous person bring it, a donation for G-d,
consisting of gold, silver, and copper"; Vayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 35 Verse 5

" And to devise [plans] with ingenuity, to execute [those plans] in gold, in silver and in copper." Vayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 35 Verse 32:

  He made the Basin [ Kior ] out of copper and its base out of copper, from the mirrors of the women who had gathered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting Vayakhel: Shemot/Exodus, Chapter 38 Verse 8:

 The Kior was the basin in which the Kohanim washed their hands and feet every day at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

And today I will discuss some "medical issues" in connection with copper
Copper is -as everybody know- an excellent conductor [the second best after silver] and therefore used in electricity wires.
What may be less known is that copper does not sustain any bacteria growth on its surface and there fore it would be ideal to use this metal for door knobs especially in hospitals.
Is it not remarkable that the "Healer of all flesh" commanded that the Kior in the mishkan [Tabernacle] had to be made of copper?
The kohanim had to do the ritual washing form the copper basin!
[yes , I do realize that the Tora is not a medical hand book]

In the human body copper -even if it is present only in small amounts-has a vital function.
Copper and zinc are very dependent on each other.
Too much copper and low levels of zinc can lead to serious psychiatry problems and even possibly to certain forms of schizophrenia .
Fortunately, zinc food sources also provide copper.

Especially rich in copper are nuts (brazil nuts,cashews,peanuts, pecans), seeds (especially poppy and sunflower), chickpeas, liver and [oysters].
potatoes, legumes (beans and peas), grains (wheat and rye), fruits (peach and raisin), and even chocolate!
A shortage on the other hand can lead in the long run to serous blood vessel problems and even to a widening and weakening of the aorta which may rupture and cause a potential fatal bleeding.
Copper has many more important tasks.

It helps in the production of hemoglobin and some anemias may never get better without the addition of extra copper, again a not very well known fact.
For a proper thyroid function proper amounts of zinc , copper as well as selenium and other minerals/vitamins are required.
Women seem to need more copper then men for their hormonal balance, where as men need more zinc.
Is it again not striking that the mirrors of the women were made of copper?
[I am not relating to the midrash in the pure spiritual sense ,but I am wondering -and again only the Creator may know-if the women needed the little bit of extra copper which they possibly could have absorbed from these mirrors [micro-homeopathic amounts?] , to gives a more "materialistic-physiological" explanation of the midrash concerning the function of the mirrors...........??
I will now discuss the use of copper in homeopathy and just mention the most striking characteristics of this metal and this will give an idea when copper in homeopathic form may be indicated as a remedy.
The main essence [characteristic] of copper [cuprum metallicum] in homeopathy is:
CRAMPS, all kind of cramps ,calve cramps, spasms,twitching and even convulsions [epilepsy],crampy cough [whooping cough!],severe,violent asthma often relieved by vomiting and this in itself may be a sign that the patient needs copper.
Language is fascinating and to compare the root letters of cramps and cuprum with each others does give one an chizuk [strong argument] that what happened at Babel was very real!!
C...R...M...P= C... u.. P...R..M
nachash..........nechoshet .........cramping -----cuprum: wind like a snake french : se torder , serpenter = to wringle serpent = snake

german:sich schlängeln ........ schlange =snake

To show you that nachash and nechoshet [the wringeling of the snake ,the crampy movements are all found back in other languages and that cuprum [nechoshet] has as main characteristic: CRAMPS
A very special indication for cuprum is the so called "breath-holding spells''.

Small children who -after a crying spell- suddenly stop breathing and turn blue for a short while and then come back to "life". The condition is innocent except that it can cause the parents the fright of their life!
One dose of cuprum [potency 200] may clear up all future attacks!

Also mentally "cramped"[introvert],suppressed feelings,duty bound,keeps all the rules and regulations and can't stand when other don't do the same; fanatic,will not give up
Wants to be independent ,will not ask for help.
Dictatorial, they like to keep the same pattern,the same rules,no changes,please!
Policemen!! I understood that in the States police men are called in “slang”:copper
All cramps of the copper patient have a violent character [violent diarrhoea,violent vomiting,hysterical cramps,violent asthma]

Wants to be in control of everything.
Never able to relax, hard workers,ambitious very disciplined ,never gives up,hard for himself and others.
Cuprum children can behave violent [kicking,biting,spitting]
They are very serious in class and are afraid to get a rebuke or to be criticized and will do everything to please the teacher.[according to the rules]
School teachers should know this and they should not ask to much from children with a "copper picture",because these children will do everything to keep up with the demands and may then get sick if they can't perform as asked from them.

Copper children often don't like to be touched or to be approached.
Babies with colics may react very well on cuprum especially when there is a clear gurgling sound when they drink/nurse.

And to end with a simple advise: in ayurvedic medicine children with severe asthma are often given to drink some water that has been left [overnight] in a copper vessel.

Comments