The best medicines, money and possessions cannot take the place of sleep. When travelling it may overcome us on a train or plane, to the homeless it may come as a relief in open fields, and at night it gathers the more fortunate ones among us into its soothing arms on soft pillows. It is always necessary when it comes, and we should not drive it away; otherwise it may one day take revenge by avoiding us.

Do we really know what sleep means to our senses? Do we show understanding for its necessity? Have we ever stopped to think how it recharges our batteries by letting us rest and relax? While we are asleep we forget everything. When a day has been full of heavy burdens we can bring it to an end by means of merciful sleep. For the nerves, brain, muscles and blood vessels it is an important break. While we sleep, millions of our body cells can rest and renew themselves. In its wonderful effects sleep remains a mystery, a phenomenon of nature, in spite of all that has been written about it.

Since it is said that every cell is subject to a rhythm of tension and repose, it is astonishing to hear that millions of heart cells, from before our birth to the last moment of our life, never stop working. It is strange that not all cells have been given the same potential. While some require the regular rhythm of rest, others are capable of working throughout life with untiring pliability, without ever resting. What miracle makes this possible is known only to the One who put the building blocks of life together and imparted the life force to them in the first place.

*1220/28/1*

Many years ago I had an experience when, quite by chance, I applied the same breathing method. My lungs were damaged in a car accident and the resulting problem could have posed great difficulties for me.

I decided to go to the mountains for the sake of pure air, adopted a natural diet and was making satisfactory progress. The ‘finishing touches’, however, were provided by regular deep-breathing exercises. I concentrated on thorough exhalation, followed by equally thorough inhalation. I began these exercises in front of an open window in fairly cold weather. In time, my condition became so good that I was able to do the breathing exercises in a temperature of —10 °C (14 °F), in front of the open balcony door, with the curtains drawn and without clothes, for fifteen minutes. In spite of the cold, the strenuous exercise made me perspire.

At the same time I combined the breathing exercises with a relaxation exercise. While standing on a carpet, I tightened and loosened my muscles again and again, tightening when I inhaled and loosening when I exhaled. I then took a short rest before starting the exercise again. The air seemed to flow through my body like a warm, pleasant stream. If I had been breathing through my mouth, I would have undoubtedly caught a chill, with the possibility of pneumonia developing. Thus I became aware of the importance of breathing through the nose and could appreciate why this is recommended in all health books.

*1151/28/1*

In comparison with regular coffee, which I normally take with milk or cream and without sugar, the Arabic coffee did not cause me any trouble and seemed less stimulating. The unfavourable side effects of the coffee somehow appear to be eliminated by the Arabian method of preparation. After many observations and experiments I found that the grounds contain certain materials that, to a certain extent, neutralise the soluble substances in coffee, including caffeine, weakening its stimulating properties.

If you like the pleasant taste and aroma of coffee, why not try the Arabian method and take only a small cup, together with the grounds. However, you should only indulge if your nervous system

is in good working order; sensitive or nervous people should leave coffee alone.

*1082/28/1*

Infants and children, patients with a feverish condition, and seriously ill adults suffering from metabolic disorders should use only grape sugar, rather than white sugar, to sweeten their drinks. It oxidises in the system without any waste and does not impose any additional burden on the body. Unlike white sugar, grape sugar is not a calcium robber. It should be part of the diet of every convalescent and those with weak hearts or frayed nerves because of its soothing quality. Sleeping drops, lemon balm herb tea or heart tonic sweetened with grape sugar in a little water and taken at night encourage restful sleep. Grape sugar has only one drawback: it is relatively expensive. But this is not at all astonishing in view of the cost of grapes nowadays.

*1012/28/1*

As a change from fruit, a meal of sandwiches and salad can be very enjoyable. If you wish to drink something with it, have some cereal and fruit coffee (Bambu Coffee Substitute) with a little cream or milk. Liver patients should have a glass of carrot juice instead. For variety’s sake you might have a good vegetable soup.

So there are many variations possible; all you need is a little imagination and natural good taste. If you like, fresh tomatoes can be put on the table as well. A juicy tomato is always refreshing and will enrich the meal with its vitamins. Arthritis patients, however, should take great care to eat only the fully ripe ones.

*941/28/1*