To begin with, the patient should be'" kept on a diet of raw juices for five to seven days, depending on the severity of the disease. In this regimen, he should take a glass of fruit or vegetable juice, diluted with warm water on 50:50 basis, every two hours. Fruits such as orange, mussombi, apple, pineapple and grapes and vegetables like carrots and tomatoes may be used for juices.



After a diet of raw juices, when the fever subsides, the patient should spend three or four further days on an exclusive fresh fruit diet, taking three meals a day of juicy fruits such as apple, grapes, pineapple, mango, orange, lemon and papaya. Thereafter, he may gradually adopt a well-balanced diet of natural foods consisting of seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables. The patient should be given warm water enema daily to cleanse the bowels during the period of raw juice therapy and all-fruit diet and thereafter, when necessary.

The patient should avoid strong tea, coffee, refined foods, fried foods, white sugar, white flour and all products made from them, condiments and pickles. He should also avoid all meats as well as alcoholic beverages and smoking.

Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of pneumonia. During the early acute stage of this disease, herbal tea made from fenugreek seeds will help the body to produce perspiration, dispel toxicity and shorten the period of fever. It can be taken up to four cups daily. The quantity should be reduced as condition improves. To improve flavour, a few drops of lemon juice can be used. During this treatment, no other food or nourishment should be taken as fasting and fenugreek will help the body to correct these respiratory problems.

According to Dr. F. W. Crosman, an eminent physician, garlic is a marvellous remedy for pneumonia, if given in sufficient quantities. This physician used garlic for many years in pneumonia, and said that in no instance did it fail to bring down the temperature as well as the pulse and respiration, within 48 hours. Garlic juice can also be applied externally to the chest with beneficial results as it is an irritant and rubefacient.

Sesame seeds are valuable in pneumonia. An infusion of the seeds, mixed with a tablespoon of linseed, a pinch of common salt and desertspoon of honey, should be given in the treatment of this disease. This will help remove catarrhal matter and phlegm from the bronchial tubes.

The pain of pneumonia can be relieved by rubbing oil of turpentine over the rib cage and wrapping warmed cotton wool over it.