Ancient Remedies

1. Ancient Remedies Offer a Holistic Alternative to Pharmaceutical-Based Healthcare

It’s high time you understand that you don’t need to take dangerous drugs for every ailment, that the Western medical system’s profit-based approach isn’t doing your health any favors, and that there are wonderfully effective alternative therapeutics that can heal your health issues and put you safely on the path to lifelong wellness.

Flaws of Modern Medicine. The book critiques the over-reliance on pharmaceuticals in Western medicine, highlighting the potential dangers of side effects, nutrient deficiencies, and the failure to address the root causes of illness. The author contrasts this with ancient healing traditions that emphasize a holistic approach, considering the body, mind, and spirit as interconnected.

Ancient Wisdom Rediscovered. Ancient cultures, including those in China, India, Greece, and the Middle East, developed sophisticated medical systems thousands of years ago. These systems, still in use today, rely on gentle yet powerful therapies such as diet, herbs, essential oils, acupuncture, and emotional strategies like meditation and prayer. The book advocates for reclaiming this ancient wisdom as a safer and more effective approach to healthcare.

A Call to Action. The author encourages readers to question the medical status quo and explore alternative therapeutics that can heal health issues and promote lifelong wellness. By understanding the limitations of pharmaceutical-based healthcare and embracing ancient remedies, individuals can make informed choices for themselves and their families, moving away from dangerous drugs and towards natural, safe, and effective treatments.

2. Ancient Healing Focuses on Root Causes, Not Just Symptoms

Instead of treating symptoms, heal the root cause of the illness.

Beyond Symptom Management. Ancient healing traditions prioritize identifying and addressing the underlying causes of illness rather than merely suppressing symptoms. This approach involves restoring balance to the internal environment and strengthening organ systems, enabling the body to heal itself from within.

Toxicity and Deficiencies. The two most common underlying causes of poor health, according to ancient healing, are toxicity and deficiencies. Toxicity arises from inflammatory foods, environmental toxins, and unhealthy emotions, while deficiencies include vitamin and mineral deficits, as well as a lack of joy, hope, love, forgiveness, and connection. Ancient remedies aim to address both of these factors.

The Body's Innate Healing Power. The body possesses a remarkable capacity to heal itself, fight off infections, and repair damaged tissues. Ancient remedies complement this natural ability by gently coaxing and supporting the body's restorative processes. By replacing inflammation-promoting factors with regenerative ones, individuals can unlock their body's secret superpower and achieve lasting health and well-being.

3. Personalized Nutrition Based on Ancient Elements Optimizes Health

There is no single perfect diet.

Unique Individual Needs. Recognizing that each person is unique, with distinct traits, genomes, and responses to food, the book emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition. The author challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to diet and health, advocating for customized eating plans that suit individual needs and constitutions.

The Five Elements System. The five elements of ancient medicine—fire, earth, wood, metal, and water—offer a framework for understanding individual differences in emotional and physical health. By identifying their dominant elements, individuals can gain insights into their body type, emotional tendencies, and dominant organs, as well as tailor their diet and lifestyle accordingly.

Dietary Guidance for Each Element. Each element corresponds to a particular taste, organ, and season, providing specific dietary guidance for maintaining balance and promoting health. For example, warming foods are recommended for those with cold deficiencies, while cooling foods are advised for those with excess heat. By aligning their food choices with their dominant elements, individuals can optimize their health and well-being.

4. Strategic Food Combinations and Ancient Mealtime Habits Enhance Healing

Ancient cultures created these meals to bring balance to your body.

Synergistic Food Pairings. Ancient cultures understood the value of combining foods that work synergistically, amplifying their benefits and promoting internal balance. Examples include pairing turmeric with black pepper to enhance absorption and combining dampening foods with warming spices in Indian cuisine.

Ancient Mealtime Rituals. The book highlights the importance of adopting ancient mealtime habits, such as eating until three-quarters full, consuming fruit by itself, and eating according to the season. These practices optimize the body's ability to utilize nutrition and promote overall health.

Avoiding Modern Food Products. The author cautions against consuming modern food products that bear no resemblance to ancient foods, such as sugar, processed oils, and refined grains. These items, absent from ancient diets, can undermine health and should be replaced with wholesome, natural alternatives.

5. Ancient Superfoods Provide Essential Nutrients for Modern Health

In 1902, Thomas Edison predicted a return to the food-is-medicine mindset—a return we’re finally starting to see today.

Reclaiming Lost Foods. Many foods that were common in ancient diets have gradually disappeared from modern diets, replaced by processed and packaged alternatives. The book advocates for reclaiming these long-lost ancient foods, recognizing their healing potential and nutritional value.

Eight Essential Superfoods. The author identifies eight ancient superfoods that should be added to everyone's diet:

• Bone broth
• Organ meats
• Healthy fats
• Herbs and spices
• Mushrooms
• Berries
• Vegetables
• Seaweed and super greens

The Doctrine of Signatures. The doctrine of signatures, or "like supports like," suggests that foods that resemble a body part are beneficial for that body part. Examples include carrots for eye health, walnuts for brain health, and celery for bone health. By incorporating these ancient superfoods into their diets, individuals can provide their bodies with the essential nutrients needed to thrive and prevent disease.

6. Herbs, Spices, and Mushrooms: Nature's Potent Medicines

For millennia, people around the world recognized that these tiny edibles were nutritional powerhouses…

Beyond Seasoning. Herbs, spices, and mushrooms are not merely seasonings but potent medicines with a wide range of therapeutic properties. These plant-based remedies have been used for centuries to treat various conditions by restoring balance to the body.

Antiviral and Immune-Boosting Herbs. The book highlights several herbs and mushrooms with antiviral and immune-boosting properties, including reishi, elderberry, echinacea, and andrographis. These natural remedies can help the body fight off infections and strengthen its defenses against disease.

Targeted Healing. Different herbs and mushrooms possess unique active ingredients that make them particularly effective at targeting specific health problems. For example, astragalus supports digestion and immune function, while ginger aids digestion and relieves nausea. By understanding the specific properties of each plant, individuals can tailor their herbal remedies to address their individual health needs.

7. Cannabis and CBD: Reclaiming a Forbidden Herb for Healing

I think it saved my life. If it hadn’t been for that, I’d still be on the drugs.

Ancient Use and Modern Prohibition. Cannabis has been used for healing for thousands of years, but its use was outlawed in the United States in 1970. The book advocates for reclaiming this forbidden herb, particularly its non-euphoric component, CBD, for its therapeutic potential.

The Endocannabinoid System. Cannabinoids, including CBD, interact with the body's endocannabinoid system, a network of neurotransmitters and receptors that regulate various functions, including mood, memory, pain, inflammation, and immunity. By plugging into these receptors, cannabinoids can unlock the body's natural healing abilities.

Benefits of CBD and Other Cannabinoids. Research suggests that CBD and other cannabinoids may offer a range of health benefits, including reducing anxiety, improving digestion, curbing nausea, aiding sleep, boosting brain health, and relieving chronic pain and inflammation. The book encourages readers to explore the potential of these substances for improving their health and well-being.

8. Essential Oils: Aromatherapy for Physical and Emotional Well-being

Just a few drops of these ancient substances are enough to have a healthy biological effect, and each oil has its own distinct benefits.

Concentrated Plant Power. Essential oils, extracted from the flowers, leaves, bark, roots, resin, and peels of plants, contain highly concentrated quantities of the plant's most protective compounds. These oils have been used for centuries in various cultures for their medicinal and therapeutic properties.

Terpenes and the Nervous System. The therapeutic effects of essential oils are attributed to their high concentration of terpenes, aromatic compounds that interact with scent receptors in the nose and trigger effects that are relayed from the nervous system to the brain. This interaction can influence emotions, mood, and physical well-being.

Versatile Applications. Essential oils can be used in various ways, including diffusing them into the air, adding them to bathwater, applying them topically, or ingesting them with water or a carrier oil. The book provides a guide to twelve essential oils and their specific benefits, as well as precautions for safe usage.

9. Emotional and Spiritual Practices Unlock Breakthrough Healing

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a depressed and broken spirit dries up the bones.

The Mind-Body Connection. Ancient healers recognized the inextricable link between the body, mind, and spirit, understanding that emotional and spiritual well-being significantly impacts physical health. The book emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional causes of disease, rather than solely focusing on physical symptoms.

Toxic Emotions and Their Impact. Negative emotions, such as worry, anger, stress, and lack of forgiveness, can contribute to toxicity and inflammation in the body, increasing vulnerability to illness. Conversely, positive emotions, like joy, hope, love, and gratitude, can promote healing and resilience.

Ancient Techniques for Emotional Well-being. The book presents a range of ancient techniques for cultivating positive emotions and coping with negative ones, including meditation, prayer, affirmations, and random acts of kindness. By incorporating these practices into their daily lives, individuals can unlock breakthrough healing and achieve greater emotional and physical well-being.

10. Ancient Therapies and Lifestyle Medicine Address Modern Health Woes

The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and the cause and prevention of disease.

Beyond Pharmaceuticals. While Western medicine often relies on pharmaceuticals as the primary treatment option, ancient therapies and lifestyle medicine offer effective alternatives for addressing modern health woes. These approaches, rooted in centuries of wisdom, focus on strengthening qi and restoring balance to the body.

Qi-Strengthening Therapies. The book highlights several qi-strengthening therapies, including acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, chiropractic, and red light therapy. These treatments work by clearing energy blockages, promoting blood flow, and stimulating the body's natural healing processes.

Ancient Lifestyle Habits. In addition to specific therapies, the book emphasizes the importance of adopting ancient lifestyle habits, such as exercise, yoga, tai chi, walking in nature, digital fasting, and prioritizing sleep. These practices promote physical and emotional well-being, reduce stress, and support the body's natural healing abilities.

Last updated: March 13, 2025