"The Eating Alive System"

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  July, 2004  by Perry A. Chapdelaine,  Perry A. Chapdelaine, Jr.

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Eating Alive II

by Jonn Matsen, ND

Goodwin Books, Ltd., 156 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver, BC Canada, V7M 1E8

Paperback, ISBN 0-9682853-1-7; $24.95 Can, [c] 2002, 710 pp.

Dr. Matsen chose a most fitting introduction to this, his second in a series describing the most important ill-health vectors (causations of illnesses) as found in his successful Canadian practice. He quotes Rene Descartes (1595-1650) who says, "A physician is a person who treats a patient until they die, their money is all gone, or they are cured by nature."

In his personal attempt to upset the long-standing status quo, Matsen shares his clinical and laboratory findings for all who will partake; and also restates his underlying philosophy from his Eating Alive book I: "There is an incredible healing power within each of us that knows exactly what and where each of our ailments is, and knows exactly what to do to correct them. That healing power is available to you at little cost and in unlimited quantities. It is, unfortunately, often stifled and dormant."

Matsen places great emphasis on liver functions, saying, (1) Signs and symptoms of chronic disease can only disappear after liver function has been totally restored; (2) because the liver is the filter of the digestive system, the digestive function must be improved; (3) because the digestive system starts at the mouth, dietary changes are likely to be involved; and, (4) since the feeling of well-being will only occur after the liver is working properly, it seems obvious that the liver is the junction box from which nearly all symptoms of illness--physical or emotional, and sometimes even mental--must originate. Dr. Matsen then elaborates on the factors that severely limit the liver's ability to detoxify: "heavy metals, chemicals, refined foods, tobacco, alcohol, coffee."

Toward that end, Matsen describes specific regimens used and patient results, also reprinting letters from those successfully treated. He includes the historical basis for present-day misconceptions regarding the use of mercury, vaccinations, trans-fatty acids and so on. His frequent tables are quite revealing, and throughout are pertinent cartoons.

The book itself is divided into three parts:

Part I includes a "Fast track" section which allows the reader to get started on the program right away. In this section, Dr. Matsen introduces the topics he will discuss in detail later in Part III. These are: mercury, vaccines, yeast, oxygen and the liver's role in detoxifying the body. Also, rather complete nutritional guidelines are discussed here.

Part II contains the easy-to-make Menu suggestions, information about important fats and oils and the benefits of organic foods in reducing the detoxification burden on the liver.

Part III is where Matsen details how and why chronic, often-mysterious, ill-health conditions are linked to such unobvious (to most of the medical world) elements as mercury, vaccinations and yeast, and how restoring a stressed liver's function--and increasing oxygen in the body--can help solve the problems.

An extensive reading list and references section closes out this large book.

Although there are many books describing various authors' particular learning curves, Eating Alive is perhaps one of the most straightforward of accounts.

It is also the reviewers' first exposure to an interesting emphasis on the functioning of the ileocecal valve, and its relationship to obtaining health.

"The Eating Alive System," is described in summary form by Matsen as follows:

1. Replenish your body--particularly your liver--with the nutrients it needs by following the nutritional steps of "The Eating Alive System."

2. Repair your weakened ileocecal valve--strengthen it by eating according to the climate in which you live.

3. Restore your good intestinal flora, and get rid of yeast and other "Bad Guys."

4. Rejuvenate by increasing your intake of oxygen--the most important nutrient--through exercise and laughter.

5. Revitalize yourself by getting enough sleep so you will be rested, repaired, recharged, and ready for another day.

6. Reduce the amount of mercury vapor to which you are exposed on a daily basis, and remove mercury-amalgam fillings (with a properly trained dentist).

7. Replace your mercury fillings by a dentist who is properly trained and equipped in the safe removal of amalgam fillings.

8. Remove mercury and other toxic metals from your organs by chelation (capsules of DMPS) daily, under supervision of a qualified practitioner.

9. Refuse to allow mercury to be put into your body--say "NO" to amalgam fillings and to vaccinations that contain thimerosal.

10. Relax by learning to respond to stress with positive actions.

In Eating Alive II, the depth of research and experience, along with the simplicity of explanation and illustration, give both the layperson and the professional an excellent sense of how nutritional decisions and habits combine with mostly man-made environmental toxins to create the chronic ill-health syndromes.