Chapter IX

THE PERIODS OF THE HEALTH CYCLE
With Descriptions of Cycle No. 4
OR those who want to give special atten^ tion to their health during critical periods or generally throughout each year, the following matter and that in chapter num' ber ten will be of considerable help.
The health cycle should be mapped out as are the preceding cycles, by starting with the birthday and dividing each year up into seven periods of fifty-two days each.
The conditions in regard to health in each one of these periods of each year are as follows:
Period Number One. During this period the vitality and constitutional health should be at its best, and if it is below normal, it will be more quickly and easily increased and strengthened by normal Hving and the avoidance of the violation
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of any natural laws. Plenty of outdoor walking, good air, drinking plenty of water and eating proper food, avoiding foods that are overheating, especially the starches and raw or rare meats. The eyes should be guarded against overuse or use in bright electric lights or sunlight, and if any opera^ tion is planned or system of health building to be adopted, this is the period in which to start these things.
Period Number Two. This is a period in which many light and temporary physical conditions may affect the body, and passing emotional conditions affect the mind. In other words, during this period a person may have temporary trouble with the stomach, bowels, blood stream, and nerves; these conditions seem to come quickly, last but a few days, and pass away quickly. None of these should be neglected, but each one given immediate attention, but there need be no anxiety regarding the continuance of such conditions if immediate attention is given, for all of the influences tend to bring rapid changes in the health and physical condition of the body during these fifty-two days. During this period there are apt to be days with
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headaches, upset stomachs, trouble with the eyes or the ears, catarrh, coughs, aches and pains through mild forms of cold, and with women occasionally aches and pains in the breasts and abdomen. During this period everyone should try to be cheerful and not permit the mind to dwell upon the temporary conditions that affect the body, but simply attend promptly to the checking of any condition that may arise and then cast it out of the mind. "Period Number Three. This is a period when accidents are liable, and often sudden operations come into the life of either a minor or major na' ture. Likewise, suffering by fire or injury through sharp instruments, falls, or sudden blows are more likely during this period than any other. Persons should be careful of their food and not overeat, and the body should be kept normally warm be' cause during this period there will be a tendency toward colds, often resulting from overeating or overheating the body. The blood stream should be kept clean and the bowels active, so that blood conditions will not result in sores, boils, ec2;ema, rash, or other more serious conditions of the skin
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and blood. The blood pressure also should be watched during this period, for there will be a tendency for it to rise, and overwork or strain should be avoided. Any abnormal strain upon any part of the body is very apt to bring a breaking down during this period.
"* Period Number Four. During this period the nervous system of your body will be tried to its utmost and there will be many tendencies toward nervousness expressing itself in the functioning of various organs or in an outer form of restlessness and uneasiness. Too much study, reading, plan' ning, or use of the mind and nervous system will surely bring definite reactions during this period. More sleep and more rest than in any other part of the year is required during this period. Fretfulness and nervousness may also affect the digestion, the functioning of the stomach, and may also produce a nervous heart which may cause misgivings and inconvenience. Persons who have been laboring too long or too tediously with mental problems or work requiring mental strain should be forced to relax and rest during this period, or a mental break'down is inevitable.
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Period Number Five. This is another good period, when the health should be very good, especially if normal living is indulged in, and the great outdoors utili2;ed for deep breathing, fairly long walks, and good exercise. There will probably be a tendency during this period to over^indulge in the things that please the flesh, such as the eating of preferred foods, elaborate meals and banquets, rich concoctions, spicy drinks, and so forth, and even over-indulgence morally and ethi' cally in many ways. All of this must be avoided during this period in order to prevent serious con- ditions. This is a good period in which to recover from fevers, chronic conditions, or other abnormal or subnormal conditions of the body which have been existing for some time. During this period mental suggestions, metaphysical principles, and right thinking will have more efi^ect upon the body and the health than at any other period.
Period Number Six. This period is another one in which over-indulgence should be carefully avoided in regard to work, mental strain, eating, or any of the pleasures of the flesh. It is a period during which the skin, throat, internal generative
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system, and kidneys may become affected; there' fore, plenty of water should be drunk during this period, the bowels kept open, and rest with out' door exercise should be indulged in more fre' quently than mental strain or overwork.
Period Number Seven. This is the period dup ing which chronic or lingering conditions are often contracted, and which remain a long time and cause considerable trouble in overcoming. Everyone should be especially careful of catching colds or contracting serious contagious fevers dur- ing this period by avoiding the places where such things may be contacted. The mind and whole nature is very apt to be despondent and below normal m the ability to ward off and fight an incoming condition, and even the blood stream may be lowered in its vitality at this period, and, therefore, unable to fight even the normal amount of germs or unfavorable influences that generally come in contact with every human being. It is not a good time, however, for taking medicine or having an operation performed, or for starting any new or drastic method of improving the health unless in an emergency or unless it is to be con-
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tinued over a long period, so that its real effect will come into the next period of fiftytwo days, which will be period number one of the next cycle. The eyes, the ears, and in fact any one of the five senses may become affected during this period, and care should be taken that colds or other con' ditions do not linger during this period or con' tinue without proper expert attention. It fs one of the most serious periods of the whole year for each person, in regard to diseases and chronic conditions.
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