How a Swiss Doctor Leveraged the Healing Powers of the Sun to Combat Various Forms of Dis-ease.
A Thread on the Ancient Practice of Heliotherapy.
A Thread on the Ancient Practice of Heliotherapy.
Did you know that the Ancient Greeks & Romans used the Sun's rays as a form of medicine?
Even Hippocrates wrote extensively about the therapeutic effects of the sun and recommended it for a number of conditions such as joint pain and skin disorders.
Even Hippocrates wrote extensively about the therapeutic effects of the sun and recommended it for a number of conditions such as joint pain and skin disorders.
This practice, known as Heliotherapy, involved exposing the body to sunlight to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Historically, the Sun has been well known to provide a wide array of health benefits.
Humans need light to survive, and thrive, just like plants or animals.
Historically, the Sun has been well known to provide a wide array of health benefits.
Humans need light to survive, and thrive, just like plants or animals.
From the late 19th to mid-20th century Heliotherapy was considered to be the most successful treatment for infectious diseases.
Patients suffering from gout, arthritis, colitis, anemia, eczema, asthma, acne, herpes, lupus, & sciatica all received great benefits.
Patients suffering from gout, arthritis, colitis, anemia, eczema, asthma, acne, herpes, lupus, & sciatica all received great benefits.
Heliotherapy is even practiced in the modern day Cancer Research Institute for successful DNA repair.
It's been observed that cancer cells begin to die within hours of light treatment, while healthy tissue is unharmed at the end of the procedure.
It's been observed that cancer cells begin to die within hours of light treatment, while healthy tissue is unharmed at the end of the procedure.
One of the most renowned Heliotherapists in modern medicine was Dr. Augustine Rollier.
Rollier was a Swiss physician who is well-known for his use of sunlight to treat tuberculosis.
At his peak, he operated 36 clinics with over 1,000 beds in Switzerland.
Rollier was a Swiss physician who is well-known for his use of sunlight to treat tuberculosis.
At his peak, he operated 36 clinics with over 1,000 beds in Switzerland.
These clinics were established at 5,000 feet or more above sea level.
The intensity of UV light increases by approximately 4% with every 1000 feet of elevation gain.
At 5000ft, the UV intensity is increased by around 20%.
The intensity of UV light increases by approximately 4% with every 1000 feet of elevation gain.
At 5000ft, the UV intensity is increased by around 20%.
Dr. Rollier used the sunlight to treat patients for tuberculosis, smallpox, lupus, and many other diseases.
Rollier found that sunbathing early in the morning (when UV index is less intense) combined with a whole-food diet produced the best effects for his patients.
Rollier found that sunbathing early in the morning (when UV index is less intense) combined with a whole-food diet produced the best effects for his patients.
Before/After Heliotherapy Treatment - Man with Lupus
Before/After Heliotherapy Treatment - Child with Tuberculosis:
Before/After Heliotherapy Treatment - Child with Rickets:
Before/After Heliotherapy Treatment - Woman with Lupus
One interesting note regarding heliotherapy is that it appeared the treatments did not work if the patients wore sunglasses.
The sunglasses blocked essential parts of the light spectrum that are massively important for your body's biological functions.
The sunglasses blocked essential parts of the light spectrum that are massively important for your body's biological functions.
Ditch the designer sunglasses - they're essentially a scam.
Your eyes do not need protection from the sunlight and in many cases your vision may actually be deteriorating by never allowing the natural spectrum of sunlight to enter your vision unobstructed.
Your eyes do not need protection from the sunlight and in many cases your vision may actually be deteriorating by never allowing the natural spectrum of sunlight to enter your vision unobstructed.
By the year 1933, there were over 165 diseases for which the sunlight provided beneficial treatment.
Unfortunately, after the death of Dr. Rollier in 1954, coupled with the growing predominance of the pharmaceutical industry, heliotherapy fell into disuse.
Unfortunately, after the death of Dr. Rollier in 1954, coupled with the growing predominance of the pharmaceutical industry, heliotherapy fell into disuse.
By the 1980s, the population in the West was being bombarded with advertisements for chemical sunscreen, citing the enormous dangers of exposure to the sunlight.
Yet melanoma rates have steadily increased throughout the 20th century to today:
Yet melanoma rates have steadily increased throughout the 20th century to today:
While it is true the Sun has the potential to cause skin cancer, there's actually a paradoxical relationship between sunlight and cancer.
It's important to expose yourself to the sun - sensibly. Morning sunlight, avoiding burned skin, & a clean diet are good places to start.
It's important to expose yourself to the sun - sensibly. Morning sunlight, avoiding burned skin, & a clean diet are good places to start.
Much of the information from this thread was introduced to me through the book "Heal Yourself with Sunlight" by Andreas Moritz.
I did a past thread diving deeper into the general health benefits from the sun as learned from the book.
I did a past thread diving deeper into the general health benefits from the sun as learned from the book.
https://twitter.com/MichaelAmmons/status/1559525511025418240?s=20&t=xTM5w7XuJGuz5o6Vwif0HQ
Smart sun exposure is one of THE most crucial parts of a healthy body and mind.
I'm hoping that this thread introduced you to the potential healing benefits that the Sun has to offer.
They are quite literally innumerable!
I'm hoping that this thread introduced you to the potential healing benefits that the Sun has to offer.
They are quite literally innumerable!
I hope you've found this thread interesting and insightful.
Follow me @MichaelAmmons for more posts on Mindfulness, Movement, Nutrition, and Nature.
Like/Retweet the first tweet below to help spread the good word about the Healing Powers of the Sun!
Follow me @MichaelAmmons for more posts on Mindfulness, Movement, Nutrition, and Nature.
Like/Retweet the first tweet below to help spread the good word about the Healing Powers of the Sun!
https://twitter.com/MichaelAmmons/status/1602657446899482624
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