Homeopathy Book Reviews

Elementary Nutrition for Homeopaths

Written by Rochelle Marsden

Elementary Nutrition for Homeopaths by Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, is reviewed by Rochelle Marsden.

Elementary Nutrition for HomeopathsElementary Nutrition for Homeopaths jan 2016

by Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD

Reviewed by Rochelle Marsden

There are three editions of the same book with the same information:

–   The “deluxe” one, with all illustrations in colour and a 20% discount:  http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-joe-rozencwajg-nmd/elementary-nutrition-for-homeopaths/paperback/product-22484538.html

–    The monochrome, black and white one, about half the cost of the previous one: http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-joe-rozencwajg-nmd/elementary-nutrition-for-homeopaths-monochrome/paperback/product-22485694.html

– The eBook in PDF format, the most economical alternative:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-joe-rozencwajg-md-phd-nmd/elementary-nutrition-for-homeopaths/ebook/product-22484571.html

The” Deluxe” edition

Paperback, 264 Pages

List Price: £77.03

Price: £61.62(excl. VAT)

hop

The “monochrome”edition

Paperback, 264 Pages

Price: £24.15(excl. VAT)

The “Ebook version” (Pdf)

264 Pages

Price: £11.82(excl. VAT)

I was so pleased to be given the honour of reviewing one of Joe’s books again as I do so love his easy, humorous style of writing which makes the reader just want to read on and on without a break. Under the title page of the book is written: “Dealing with the most neglected obstacle to cure.” This is how Joe describes the book: This book is based on the fact that an improper diet is the major and most neglected obstacle to cure. Restoring a human “fuelling” allows many symptoms, signs and complaints to disappear and exposes the real inner disturbances we are supposed to treat. This is better than being drowned in the toxic symptomatology of “foods” that should never be eaten. “Nutrition fuels our lives. What happens if you put diesel fuel in a petrol car? What happens if you eat what is considered as food but scientifically recognised as toxic? How does that influence the homeopathic treatment and the approach to the patient? In a nutshell, this is what we are talking about and what we learn to recognise and deal with in our daily practices.”

Instead of a Disclaimer Joe has written a Claimer that everything has been clinically tested by himself with grateful thanks to his patients! Instead of Chapter headings he gives us a Menu – the first being “Aperitif” and the next “Amuse-bouche”. The last two are entitled “Can I have a word with the Chef” and “Here is your doggy bag, Madam”.

He tells us that toxic food is a major obstacle to cure. The purpose of his book, he writes, is to have the patient adopt a really human, healthy nutritional pattern before or during a deep seated (homeopathic) treatment, as it will simplify treatment and make it “hold”.

He explains very powerfully in the chapter named “Hors-d’oeuvre”, the advantage of giving up gluten. This is illustrated by a case of a sick breast fed baby. He suggests that our practice failures would be avoided if we looked at the nutritional pattern and lifestyle of our patients first. Then our case taking, repertorizations and prescriptions would be a lot easier (and might not be necessary at all! ) More powerful stuff! He writes about gluten in great detail, explaining how the intolerance does not always show up in tests and the only successful test is the result from abstinence.

There is also important advice about cross reactivity. He gives rubrics and a repertorization for IBS and discusses gluten and cancer as well as giving references to research papers about it. He also discusses the liver, skin, diabetes, neuro-psychiatric problems, autism and M.S, all with comprehensive references about gluten. His blatant sarcasm about some dieticians and nutritionists is highly amusing and makes the comprehensive details more palatable (excuse the pun). I am so pleased he mentions the sugar loading, that I have found in gluten- free products. The use of Triticum vulgare (wheat) in potency makes interesting reading. He discusses the similarities between the proteins in other cereals than wheat which may explain how cross reaction occurs.

Sugar naturally comes under Joe’s microscope as well as cereals. He tells us that it is the rapidly absorbed sugars, the simple sugars like fructose that are the most harmful. The slow release ones, found in whole fruit and vegetables are the most useful for our metabolism. He discusses sugar and inflammation and gives the rubrics and a rep chart for inflammation. He points us in the direction of research papers which state that sugar prevents the proper function of our immune system.

Joe writes at length about dental caries and how drinking tea without milk or sugar after a meal, can help. It also acts as a natural mouth wash. Sugar and heart failure are also discussed. He wonders how many symptoms would disappear with abstinence from sugar. A high carb diet may increase the prevalence of depression in post- menopausal women, and also schizophrenia and memory performance leading to dementia.

Next Joe tackles the highly charged issue of milk and dairy. He discusses the differences between human milk and other primates. It turns out that milk of donkeys and a mares has more in common with human milk than cow’s milk which contains much more protein. We all have young children with constipation in our practices and there is a suggestion that this is caused by intolerance of cow’s milk. He gives us lots of scary warnings about casein and cancer, and casein and respiratory conditions. Joe makes no excuses for the amount of data and references he has given, because he believes that for homeopaths to be convincing, they need to provide sources that cannot be contested. He believes that the most important part of any treatment is removing maintaining causes, which allows our remedies and other treatments to work.

There was so much information in the “Plat du Jour” chapter that he has kindly summarised it in a chart. After this, thank goodness, he does state that the occasional cookie will do no harm to a healthy person but that the regular Western diet is a one way ticket to disease and an early death. He says that it is our duty as practitioners to educate our patients.

In the chapter “Side Dish” Joe writes about diets healthier than the regular Western one and also he notes that other cultures are far more physically active. He comments on gym bunnies who reward themselves with a carbohydrate fix after exercise, which negates all their efforts.

The Paleo diet comes under scrutiny and Joe believes it should be thought of as a way of life rather than a diet. He talks about insomnia and sleep and how the Paleo concept is relevant to this. What if walking during the night is the normal pattern and a full interrupted night’s sleep only happens when exhausted? As someone who wakes every couple of hours and then goes straight back to sleep I found this discussion fascinating. He provides rubrics to explain what he means. I had never heard of Paleo fitness before but understood that this is how I now exercise with intense interval training. He continues with an interesting discussion on the differences in diseases found in Egyptian mummies according to whether they were pharaohs or slave workers.

Finally we get to what we should be eating and a discussion of each group of foods. There are nuts, seeds, including the non- gluten substitutes like quinoa, buckwheat and others that can be used to make flour for bread as well as eggs, meat and fish. I was pleased to read that there is no problem with fruit, provided it is whole fruit and not juices. Also vegetables are on the can-be-eaten list and can be juiced as nutritional medicine. He is a fan of the breakfast smoothie using blenders like the Nutri-bullet. Regarding carbohydrate vegetables, he explains that how they are cooked has an effect on the Glycemic Index, which is important for diabetics to understand. Spices should be eaten in large quantities and Joe suggests purchasing a book on their medicinal properties. Lectins and saponins are also covered. Apparently they reduce cancer risk and again Joe illustrates this by reference to various studies.

I love the way Joe writes and here is a perfect example….. “the usual dietary recommendations regarding the avoidance of fatty foods as the solution to raised cholesterol has been sent to the Museum of Idiotic Concepts by the conventional world”. Unfortunately I am not sure this is correct in the UK!! He then explains how to restore healthy cholesterol levels without resorting to statins and how eggs are the perfect food.

Meat, processed meat and the amount we eat compared with vegetables and fruit, with supportive studies, are also stressed. He discusses a book by Dr. Jean Seignalet, “L’Alimentation ou La Troisième Médecine” (in French) which he believes gives important information about the diseases toxic foods can cause.

In the chapter “Café et chocolat” Joe states how difficult it is to switch to a different diet. He describes the realisation of his coffee and Coca cola addiction and what happened after he had had been clean for a few months and then had a few sips of Coca cola again. It was the last time he touched it. His description of an arthritic patient who gave up dairy and tried it again is nearly enough for me to consider giving it up!! But there is hope, as after being “clean” for a couple of years the occasional cheating is then tolerated once health is restored.

The next to last chapter is “Could I have a word with the Chef”. I would call it a Frequently Asked Questions chapter but after reading this book I have more questions! In the chapter “Here is your doggy bag, Madam” all his nutritional recommendations are summarised.

Overall this is a book I would recommend to everyone, even if like myself you think you know it all! I have learnt a great deal and I am sure you will.

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About the author

Rochelle Marsden

Rochelle Marsden MSc, RSHom, MNWCH, AAMET is a member of the Hpathy team, a registered classical homeopath (Society of Homeopaths), and has run Southport Homeopathic Practice in the UK SINCE 1999. Rochelle completed a 2 year post-grad course with Dr. Ramakrishnan and another with Dr. S. Banerjea, and an intense Clinical Training in India with Dr. Ramakrishnan. She is a tutor for The British Institute for Homeopathy (BIH) and is a regional tutor for local homeopathic colleges. She is also a practitioner in meridian therapies, EFT (Cert. Advanced) and Matrix Reimprinting. Visit Rochelle at : http://www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk/

1 Comment

  • Thank you Rochelle for your review.
    Your writting is almost as witty as Dr Roz. writtings 🙂
    Now I am longing with more impatience for f time to read this book, just arrived on my shelves !
    Veronique

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