2024 World Teachers Day: 25 memorable health icons (2)WHO among us who can read or write or, if unable to, is capable of deep thinking who never had a teacher? We all had,and still have, fabulous teachers. I remember Alhaji Babatunde Jose, Chairman and Managing Director of the powerful Daily Times Group of newspapers in the 1970s warning my 1972 class of journalism trainees at The Times Newspaper Training Centre ( TNTC): “ The day a journalist stops to read and to learn, he begins to die”.
I was 22 and made not much of it. On the job, I would undergo pumelling in the hands of editors such as Segun Soba, Sola Odunfa, Angus Okoli, Clement Okosun, Dipo Ajayi, George Okoro, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Henry Odunkomaya and Prince Tony Momoh. They all helped me to cut fine professional teeth and muscles. When I , too,began to train reporters, correspondents and editors about 12 years after, culminating in my editorship of The Guardian newspaper in 1988 in my 17th professional year, I appreciated them all. I remembered, also, my teachers at school and often mentioned them every Teachers Day.
Today, I still remember Mrs Brikesteth. She was my primary three teacher at St. Andrews Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta in 1958. She forced my class to learn by heart the memory verse Romans 12: 17-21( “Recompense to no man evil for evil….therefore, if thy enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him water. By so doing, ye shall heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”.).There was Mr Eyitayo in primary five and Primary Six at St. John’s Primary School, Agodi N5, Ibadan. I was among his best three pupils, exchanging positions with Victoria Eyitati and Adenike Omage (any one knows where they are, please?). Mr Eyitayo gave me a good foundation in Arithmetic and geography which, unfortunately, no teacher in secondary helped me enough to build on.
At Oliviet Baptist High School, Oyo, between 1964 and 1968, I enjoyed unique teachers too many to mention. Mr J.B.P. Lafunhan was the Principal. Bolaji Akinyemi( now a professor) was there. So was S.O.Kolade,the Health Science( Physiology and Hygiene) teacher, the flag of whose work in those days this column has been flying since about 1980s. He kindled my interest in medicine and encouraged me, as a journalist later, to subscribe to reputable journals on medicine such as The Lancet in England. Ayo Ojo, a vibrant activist in the Nigerian Medical Association,( NMA) of the 1980s, was my school father at Oliviet. He lived in Block17 and I in Block 2 at the Kings Barracks, Iyaganku, Ibadan. His uncle, like my father, was a policeman. His other uncle I later knew is Chief Ade Ojo of ELIZADE (Elizabeth and Ade) motors. Every holiday, Ayo Ojo took me to the Youth Camp across the rail- line, where we studied from morning to evening. He made me run over Biology and Chemistry syllabuses of “O Level in Class 4 three times before the WASSCE in class V of 1968. He would later own and run no fewer than four hospitals before his retirement.
To crown them all, I had the privilege of learning about creation at the the feet of Chief A.O.Lawson. An insightful statement from the Bringer of the Creation Work from which Chief Lawson shone the light toTruth seekers inspired me at 27 in 1977 to discover my roots in the healing processes of Mother Nature and to seek kindred souls like me world-wide to learn from. That unforgettable statement is that…NEITHER DRUGS NOR INJECTIONS BUT THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOODS AND DRINKS BRING LASTING HEALTH. For the first time on any WORLD TEACHERS DAY( 5, October 2024 this year), I thought of celebrating the fabulous men and women whose great pioneering or frontiers expanding work in medicine in the form of alternative Medicine or Natural Medicine opened my eyes and spirit wider to this vocation and gave to me another PASSION after JOURNALISM. Some of them have left the flesh, but their works live after them. I still cannot explain how , despite the rigours of newsroom life, starting work at about 11a.m and winding up at about 2a.m to arrive home by about 3.a.m, with only a break on Saturdays, I was able to discover these women and men, buy their latest books and build a library of them. They must be fabulous teachers for that to happen.
Ladies and gentlemen,as I encouraged you, too, to seek out your teachers and send to them token gifts if they are still alive or to their children or wives if they are gone, I will present to you over about the next five columns about 20 or 25 men and women I learned from and can help you expand your knowledge about natural health. They are…
Dr Robert Atkins
It was about 44 years ago in 1980 that Dr. Robert Atkins won my heart. He was a thorn in the flesh of the American Medical Association( AMA) which represented nothing outside Orthodoxy. Dr Atkins was on Orthodox. Where his fellow doctors were working up north on the left side of the road toward oasis after oasis of illusive disease cures,as in the cases of cancer, heart attack and stroke, Dr Atkins worked on the right down south. For a person like me searching for cures for diseases regular doctors said had nor cures, Dr Atkins was a doctor to look up to. My reason was my belief that there was no disease mankind, on a journey from their home in paradise, may encounter during their sojorn on earth the Almighty and all Wise Creator had not in advance made healing provisions for. Dr Atkins had a penchant to be a CURE-DOCTOR where his contemporaries saw barricades or cul de sacs. He was a mega Vitamin-dosage doctor, going as high as 6,000-10,000mg of Vitamin C everyday for his patients who suffer from serious diseases where conventional wisdom pegged routine doctors at 60mg from fears that calcium dissociated from Magnesium may cause kidney and/or gallbladder stones. Dr Atkins was unafraid of this. He prescribed absorbable forms of calcium and magnesium. He was not a calcium carbonate doctor. Calcium carbonate is more or less like blackboard chalk. It is cheap, and not easily absorbed. It coats the lining of the intestine and disturbs absorption of other nutrients. To prevent calcium oxilate stones and magnesium stones in the gallbladder, kidneys and in other tissues, and to advert calcium dissociation in the bones and elsewhere, Dr Atkins prescribed magnesiums orthophosphate and pyridoxine( Vitamin B6). Dr Atkins did not hesitate, also, to prescribe between 25,000 and 50,0000i.u of vitamin A in glaucoma, for example,when more than 5,500I.U was thought to damage the liver, and safty-thinking doctors would rather back that small dosage with enormous amounts of Beta carotene,the precursor of Vitamin A, which is considered safe at any high dosage. He surprised many persons more during the thunderstorm debates on whether fat consumption was a cause of cardiovascular troubles, hypertension, heart diseases, heart attack, strokes… and death. Total blood cholesterol was rising, as was Low Density Lipoprotein(LDL),the dangerous cholesterol, and doctors were warning against fat consumption. Paradoxically, abstention from fat consumption worsen fat trouble. That suggested to Dr Atkins that the body needed fats,but, perhaps, more of a different kind of fats than of others. That was simple,logical thinking. Why it escaped the attention of well learned doctors could only be because, intellectually speaking, they were no longer as simple as children, having turn medicine into a complex maze of incomprehensible ideas to make it a professional call. Dr Atkins advocated consumption of Omega-3 fats, the friendly, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). It turned out that he was in the right when Dr Udo’s Erasmus published FATS THAT HEAL and FAT THAT KILLS. This fabulous book, best on rigorous and extensive research, settled for Euro-Americans their consuming fat debate or dispute. Dr Atkins became a super star. Omega-3 fish oil or plant-based Omega-3 oil, as in flaxseed oil, is sold world-wide today!
Opponents and enemies of Dr Atkins in the medical professional sought to silence him. Medical journal declined to publish his positions on burning questions. The newspapers also distanced themselves from him to avert advertisement income strangulation by the medical Establishment. Dr Atkins got around this by setting up his own Press. I found his chioce of herbs refreshing. From him in the 1980s, I found that OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT was probably one of the most effective for fungi and mold infections, which had been proven to be the some of the culprits behind cancer and other tumours.
Dr Atkins says of Olive Extract: “ Calcium enolate, the leaf’s most active ingredient,is an extraordinary effective killer of viruses and bacteria. It also keeps latent viruses from emerging. The leaf offers at least some relief, if not complete recovery, from the entire rogues’ gallery of microbial ailments-pneumonia, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, influenza, viral encephalitis, viral meningitis, hepatitis B, shingles, herpes,and Epstein-Barr. It is also a worthwhile treament for urinary infections, surgical infections, and any sort of bacterial infection. But olive leaf also destroys yeast infections at the same time….”
Dr Atkins also had high regards for OREGANO. I, too, do. Courtesy of Mrs Shade Kusa, the wife of one of my brothers, and Udeme Edet James who tends my four court and backyards gardens, I have what, to many persons, is an oregano leaf forest in my house, which prominently features in my vegetables soup pot. Oregano oil, along with other recipes, so my household and I out of COVID-19 danger. Of oregano oil, Dr Atkins says:” The oils extracted from spice, such as thyme, cloves, rosemary, and oregano, are often good fungus and virus fighters.oregano oil is probably the champ. Ever since my introduction on it, when a single dose quickly relived a bad wintertime cold I had contracted, I have used oregano for many patients. Now I have come to depend upon it to treat almost any infection, including yeast overgrowth, for which it is one of the very best treatments”.
Some of the other herbs which Dr Atkins regularly prescribed were…. Hawthorne berries, tea tree oil, milk thistle, fenugreek, saw Palmetto,black Cohosh, vitex, Bromelain, goldenseal, pau d’Arco, Astragalus, mistletoe, Reishi, Maitake, ginger, tumeric, guto kola, valerian, cranberry e.t.c. He had kind words for each of them. Of Hawthorne berry, Dr. Atkins said
“I called this herb”the wise man digitalis” in tribute to the excellent medicine, derived from the foxglove plant, that cardiologists once used to strengthen the heart and reduce how rapidly it beats. To our great diservice, pharmaceutical companies extracted but a single one of foxglove’s constituents and created a different drug, digoxin, whose side effects include heart blockages and rhythm disturbances.
“Hawthorne extract works just as well as digoxin and it’s predecessor, with virtually no side effects or long term risks. In my opinion, the herb should be prescribed as a matter of course to every person with a cardiovascular problem.
“In many fentke ways, Hawthorn impressively address almost every major factor involved in heart disease. By keeping blood vessels relaxed, it reduces blood pressure and permits a freer flow of blood to the heart muscle. Better blood flow, in turn, increases the heart’s oxygen supply, allowing the muscle to pump more efficiently and with less strain. Additionally, through its influence on Inflamation and allergic reactions, the herb brings some therapeutic relief from chest pain (angina), an unusually fast heartbeat ( tachycardia), shortness of breath, and hypertension.
“The extract is quite potent. The usual dosage is 240-480mg daily”.
Dr Atkins was a generous doctor. Unlike many doctors who, like the village herbalists of old who kept his herbal recipes a secret, Dr Atkins gave his own out in his wonderful book, Dr.AtkinsVits-Nutrient Solution, which he subtitled Nature’s Answer to Drug. Of several of his protocol in the book, I will mention only three.
All the prescriptions comes with “most important and Moderately Important recipes”
One Heart and vascular health…., (most important) ..Magnesium 400-800mg, ..CoQ10 60-120mg, …Taurine 500-1,000mg, …L-carnitine 1,000mg, … Vitamin E 400-800IU, … Vitamin C 1-3 grams
Essential oils formula 3,600-7,200mg, …Mixed tocotrienols 100-200mg, … chromium 200-400mcg, …pantethine 450-900mg, …Ginkgo biloba extract 240-360mg, .. Hawthorn 240-480mg, ..B complex 50mg, (Moderately Important).., ..Garlic 1,600-3,200mg, ..Bromelain 200-400mg, ..Gamma-oryzanol 300-600mg, ..Acetyle L-carnitine 500-1,000mg, … Selenium 150-300mcg, ..Vitam B6 100-200mg, ..Folic acid 3-6mg, .. Quercetin 300-600mg, Lipoic acid 100-300mg, ..Fiber 7.5-15gm, …Grape seed/pycnogenol 150-300mg, … Calcium 600-1,200mg, …Cayenne( three pills), ..Coleus forskohlii 50-100mg
Two
Vision Health
Most Important
..Natural sources of beta-carotene 25,000-50,000IU, …Lutein 6-12mg, Vitamin C 1-3gams, ..Zinc 50-100mg, ..Selenium 200-400mcg, ..Taurine 1-2gams, (Moderately Important), Bilberry extract 250-500mg, Vitamin A 10,000-30,000IU, ..B complex 50-75mg, ..Vitamin E 400-800IU, Lysine 500-1000mg, ..N-acctyl Cysteine 500-100mg.
Three
Glaucoma/Macular Degeneration
… Zinc 60-120mg, .. Natural source beta carotene 40,000-80,000IU, …Lutein10-20mg, …Ginkgobiloba biloba extract 240-360mg, … Bilberry 250-500mg, …Taurine 1,500-3,000mg, (Moderately Important), …Grape seed/ pycnogenol 80-160mg, ..lipoic acid 100-200mg, N-Acetyl Cysteine 500-1,000mg, …Vitamin A 20,000-40,000IU, …Vitamin E 600-1200IU, Selenium 100-200mcg.
From the internet, comes the following salute for Dr. Atkins…
Eulogy for Dr. Robert Atkins: A Pioneer in Nutritional Medicine_
“Dr. Robert Atkins, a visionary physician and author, left an indelible mark on the world of nutritional medicine. His courageous stance on the benefits of dietary fats challenged conventional wisdom, paving the way for a new understanding of human nutrition.
Early Life and Medical Practice
“Born in 1930, Dr. Atkins graduated from Cornell University Medical College and established his practice in New York City. Initially, he followed traditional medical guidelines, but his observations led him to question the prevailing wisdom on diet and disease.
The Atkins Diet Revolution_
“Dr. Atkins’s landmark book, “Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution” (1972), sparked controversy by advocating a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. This approach flew in the face of established medical thinking, which blamed dietary fats for cardiovascular disease.
Vindication and Legacy
“Dr. Udo Erasmus’s seminal work, Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill (1986), validated Dr. Atkins’s stance on the benefits of certain fats. This validation cemented Dr. Atkins’s legacy as a pioneer in nutritional medicine.
Key Contributions to Nutritional and Herbal Medicine_
“Dr. Atkins’s work expanded our understanding of:
• Low-Carbohydrate Diets: He demonstrated the efficacy of reducing sugar and refined carbohydrates.
• Dietary Fats: Dr. Atkins highlighted the importance of healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids.
• Nutritional Supplements_: He advocated vitamin and mineral supplementation to support overall health.
• Herbal Medicine_: Dr. Atkins explored the therapeutic potential of herbs, such as garlic and ginkgo biloba.
• Integrative Medicine: He championed a holistic approach, combining conventional and alternative therapies.
Health Legacy
Dr. Atkins’s work has had a lasting impact:
“• Reevaluating Dietary Guidelines: His research led to a reexamination of nutritional recommendations.
• Popularising Low-Carb Diets: The Atkins Diet inspired numerous variations, transforming the way people approach weight loss.
• Advancing Nutritional Research: Dr. Atkins’s work sparked studies on the benefits of dietary fats and low-carbohydrate diets.
• Empowering Patients: He encouraged individuals to take charge of their health through informed dietary choices.
Tributes and Recognition
“Dr. Atkins received numerous accolades:
• Best-Selling Author: His books sold over 15 million copies worldwide.
• Medical Community Recognition: Dr. Atkins was honoured by the American College of Nutrition.
• Legacy Continues: The Atkins Foundation supports ongoing research in nutritional medicine.
Personal Reflections
Colleagues and patients remember Dr. Atkins as:
“Dr. Atkins was a true pioneer, willing to challenge established dogma. His work changed my life and the lives of countless others.”
Conclusion
Dr. Robert Atkins’s courageous legacy continues to inspire:
• Healthcare Professionals_: Encouraging open-mindedness and critical thinking.
• Researchers: Advancing our understanding of nutritional medicine.
• Individuals seeking health solutions: Empowering informed choices.
Dr. Atkins’s visionary work left an enduring impact on nutritional and herbal medicine, ensuring his legacy will continue to benefit humanity”.
It is possible we will have benefited more from the courage and adventures of Dr Atkins had he not slipped, falling and hitting his head on the pavement of New York pavement on a snowy day. He went into comma….and passed. Wherever you are today, Dr Atkins, have the assurance that your labour has not been in vain. I still keep coypies of your books in my home health library.
