October 25 , 2009

WORKING ON A HEALTHY FALL AND WINTER

As a Health and Physical Education major I continue a fascination with health and wellness issues. United Methodists also have a long history of concern not only for one’s spiritual health, but physical health as well.

While suffering through two rough bouts of respiratory illnesses last winter (as many of you did) I remembered how important physical health was to Methodism founder John Wesley. Early in his ministry, Wesley visited the sick and dispensed medicine to the poor in London and Bristol. He was always urging his followers to a life conducive of good health. In 1747 he published his collection of simple remedies under the title of Primitive Physick.

With people paying rapt attention this year to what makes for good health during flu season, here are a few common sense ideas from Frank Lipman, MD, founder and director of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in NYC, taken from his 14 Ways to Prevent the Swine Flu.

· Get adequate sleep and exercise.

· Wash your hands frequently with soap - avoid antibacterial soaps.

· Optimize your Vitamin D level. As sunlight lessens in winter (most of this vitamin comes from sunlight), people tend to become more

vitamin D deficient. Take Vitamin D3

· Take fish oil and Vitamin C – Please check with your personal physician about correct dosages.

· Avoid sugar and heavily processed foods. They dramatically reduce your immune function.

At Ashland we have hand sanitizer available for all worshipers at the entrance to worship – entering the narthex and on the table at the back of Ashland Hall.

Prior to celebrating the sacraments the officiating ministers wash with hand sanitizer. Our nursery workers also wash their hands upon entering and leaving the nursery.

Again, John Wesley was concerned about the physical health of all. Here are additional words of advice from the preface of Primitive Physick.

· The air we breathe is of great consequence to our health. Those who have been long abroad in easterly or northerly winds should drink

some warm pepper tea on going to bed, or a draught of toast and water.

· Everyone that would preserve health should be as clean and sweet as possible in their houses, clothes, and furniture.

· A due degree of exercise is indispensably necessary to health and long life. Walking is the best exercise for those who are able to bear it; riding for those who are not. The open air, when the weather is fair, contributes much to the benefit of exercise.

· The fewer clothes anyone uses by day or night, the hardier he will be.

· Cold bathing is of great advantage to health; it prevents abundance of diseases. It promotes perspiration, helps the circulation of the blood; and prevents the danger of catching cold. Primitive Physick London, June 11, 1747