an enzyme not produced by the body but obtain-
able only through supplements made from plants
and meant to digest fiber, is used for relief of gas
and bloating as well as other ailments, including
vaginal yeast infections and facial pain or paralysis.
A lack of protease, which digests proteins, may
cause anxiety, hypoglycemia, appendicitis, cancer,
bone problems, and various infections.
Although enzyme depletion occurs with diges-
tive disorders, it may also be caused by root canals,
radiation, irradiated foods, pasteurization, heavy
metals, mercury amalgam dental fillings, bovine
growth hormone, hybridization and genetic engi-
neering, microwaving, geopathic stress zones,
chemical additives and pesticides, and excessive
unsaturated and hydrogenated fats. In the body are
approximately 22 digestive enzymes produced for
each stage of digestion.
In alternative medicine, plant enzyme therapy is
considered to have beneficial effects for those with
chronic digestive disorders, sore throat, hay fever,
ulcers, osteoporosis, myasthenia gravis, and candidi-
asis, and for anyone who wishes to increase nutrient
absorption, especially in the case of nutrient defi-
ciency. Pancreatic enzyme therapy is reported to
benefit individuals with pancreatic hypertrophy
(enlargement); inflammation, such as in sports
injuries; viral disorders, including human immun-
odeficiency virus (HIV); heart disease, multiple
sclerosis, cancer, bone fractures, and dental and
respiratory infection; and as a preventive measure
before surgery. In sum, enzyme therapists rely on a
patient history; his or her dietary history; two palpa-
tion tests (the therapist’s use of touch to identify dys-
functional or painful areas, called palpation points),
one after a two-hour fast and another 45 minutes
after the patient has eaten a meal; blood profile; and
a 24-hour urinalysis to diagnose a person’s ailment.
Then the therapist is able to prescribe specific
enzymes (some preparations contain nine or more
enzymes); a healthy diet that contains whole,
unprocessed, and raw foods; and any other method
geared toward the patient’s recovery. Other supple-
ments, such as vitamin and mineral coenzymes, are
often prescribed in conjunction with other treat-
ment. Heat-stable, diffusible coenzymes of low mol-
ecular weight serve as enzyme activators. Coenzyme
A, for example, plays an important role in the
biosynthesis of fatty acids and sterols. Coenzyme
Q10, an antioxidant nutrient, is said to energize the
body and strengthen cardiac health. Other enzymes
are also credited with having anti-inflammatory and
antiaging properties. For additional information on
enzyme therapy, contact the American Dietetic
Association, 216 W. Jackson Boulevard., Suite 800,
Chicago, IL 60606, or (800) 366-1655; or Dr.
Howard Loomis, D.C., 21st Century Nutrition, 6421
Enterprise Lane, Madison, WI 53719, or (800) 662-
2630 or (608) 273-8100.essence Any integral force, part, character, or
general energy of a living being or substance.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the
essence (or jing) represents the body’s supply of qi,
or ch’i, meaning “life energy,” and is considered the
most refined substance of the human body. The
Chinese believe one’s essence manifests in the skin,
tongue, and hair, and in one’s fertility, potency, and
creativity. These characteristics are said to deter-
mine a person’s ability to ward off debilitation and
promote longevity.
See also BACH’S FLOWER REMEDIES; ESSENTIAL OILS;
JING.Eternity Medicine The name given by Dr. Larry
Dossey in his book Reinventing Medicine: Beyond
Mind-Body to a New Era of Healing(HarperSanFran-
cisco, 1999, pp. 206–216) to a therapy that involves
music, presence, and other means of conveying
compassion and empathy to a person who is dying.
“This provides the support for the revelations and
wisdom that usually come to the dying—the
regaining of their ‘missing half,’ which is imperish-
able. The great task of Eternity Medicine is to facil-
itate and not to obstruct this process,” Dossey
wrote.
See also DOSSEY, LARRY; FAITH HEALING; NONLOCAL
MIND.exercise In alternative medicine practices, con-
trolled physical exertion that is directed toward a
specific goal, such as relieving stress or rehabilitat-
ing one’s constitution. In Ayurvedic medicine, for
example, aerobic exercise, which includes a variety
of sports, is geared to a person’s body type, or
dosha. Virtually all practitioners of conventional40 essence