Raw Juice Therapy

During raw juice therapy, the eliminative and cleansing capacity of the organs of elimination, namely lungs, liver, kidneys and the skin, is greatly increased. It affords a physiological rest to the digestive and assimilative organs. After the juice fasting or raw juice therapy, the digestion of food and the utilisation of nutrients is vastly improved.

As juices are extracted from plants and fruits, they possess definite medicinal properties. Specific juices are beneficial in specific conditions. Besides specific medicinal virtues, raw fruit and vegetable juices have extraordinary revitalizing and rejuvenative effect on all the organs, glands and functions of the body.

Benefits

The favourable effects of raw juices in the treatment of disease are attributable to various factors. Firstly, raw fruit and vegetable juices are extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and natural sugars. They exercise beneficial effect in normalising all the body functions and help supply needed elements for the body''s own healing activity. They require no digestion and are assimilated directly in the bloodstream.

Secondly, raw juices are extremely rich in alkaline elements that help in normalizing acid-alkaline balance in the blood and tissues, as there is over-acidity in most conditions of ill health.

Thirdly, generous amounts of easily assimiliable organic minerals in raw juices, help in restoring biochemical and mineral balance in the tissues and cells, thereby preventing premature ageing of cells and disease. Finally, raw juices also contain certain natural medicines, vegetal hormones and antibiotics which, help recovery from various diseases.

Precautions

Certain precautions are, however, necessary in adopting an exclusive diet of raw juices. All juices should be made fresh immediately before drinking. Only fresh ripe fruits and vegetables should be used for extraction of juices. Only as much juice as needed for immediate consumption should be extracted. Raw juices oxidize rapidly and lose their medicinal value in storage, even under refrigeration. Sweet juices should be diluted in water on 50:50 basis or mixed with other less sweet juices. This is especially important in some specific conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Generally speaking, fruit juices stir up toxins and acids in the body, thereby stimulating the eliminative processes. Vegetable juices, on the other hand, soothe the jaded nerves and work in a much milder manner. They carry away toxic matter in a gentle way. Owing to their differing actions, fruit and vegetable juices should not be used at the same time or mixed together.

Some common ailments and fruit and vegetable juices found beneficial in their treatment are mentioned below:

Acidity: Grapes, orange, Lemon, carrot and spinach.

Acne: Grapes, tomato, cucumber, carrot, potato and spinach.

Arterioscleros: Grapefruit, pineapple, lemon, celery, carrot, lettuce and spinach.

Anaemia: Apricot, prune, strawberry, red grapes, beet, celery, carrot and spinach.

Arthritis: Sour cherry, pineapple, sour apple, lemon, grapefruit, cucumber, beet, potato, carrot, lettuce and spinach.

Asthma: Lemon, pineapple, peach, carrot, radish and celery.

Bronchitis: Apricot, lemon, pineapple, peach, tomato, carrot, onion and spinach.

Colds: Lemon, orange, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion, celery and spinach.

Constipation: Apple, pear, grapes, carrot, beet and spinach.

Colitis: Apple, apricot, pear, peach, pineapple, papaya, carrot, beet, cucumber and spinach.

Diabetes: Citrus fruits, carrot, celery, lettuce and spinach.

Diarrhoea: papaya, lemon, pineapple, carrot and celery.

Eczema: Red grapes, carrot, spinach, cucumber and beet.

Gout: Red sour cherries, pineapple, tomato, cucumber, beet, carrot, celery and spinach.

Halitosis: Apple, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, tomato, carrot, celery and spinach.

Heart Disease: Red grapes, lemon, cucumber, carrot and beet.

High Blood pressure: Grapes, orange, cucumber, carrot and beet.

Insomnia: Apple, grapes, lemon, lettuce, carrot and celery.

Jaundice: Lemon, grapes, pear, carrot, spinach and beet.

Kidney Disorders: Apple, orange, lemon, cucumber, carrot, celery, parsley and beet.

Liver Ailments: Lemon, papaya, grapes, carrot, tomato and beets.

Menstrual Disorders: Grapes, prunes, cherry, spinach, lettuce, turnip and beet.

Menopausal Symptoms: Fruits and vegetables in season.

Neuritis: orange, pineapple, apple, carrot and beets.

Obesity: Lemon, grapefruit, orange, cherry, pineapple, papaya, tomato, beet, cabbage, lettuce, spinach and carrot.

Piles: Orange, papaya, pineapple, carrot, spinach and turnip.

Prostate Disorders: All fruits juice in season, carrot, asparagus, lettuce and spinach.

Psoriasis: Grapes, carrot, beets and cucumber.

Rheumatism: Grapes, orange, lemon, grapefruit, tomato, potato, cucumber, beet, carrot and spinach.

Stomach Ulcers: Apricot, grapes, cabbage and carrot.

Sinus Trouble: Apricot, tomato, carrot, onion and radish.

Sore Throat: Apricot, grapes, lemon, pineapple, prune, tomato, carrot and parsley.

Tonsilitis: Lemon, orange, pineapple, carrot and spinach.

Varicose Veins: Grapes, orange, tomato, beetroot and carrot.

Curative Properties

As juices are extracted from plants and fruits, they possess definite medicinal properties. Specific juices are beneficial in specific conditions.

When on the raw juice therapy, the prescribed juice should be taken every two or three hours.

The author is based in Mumbai and writes on health issues.

Source:  http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=11320&sectionid=46