When underlying conditions of disease have been excluded by means of
careful tests of the urine and blood, the diet becomes of importance
and may result in the disappearance of the pain.
These pains occur chiefly in those who take little exercise and use
improper food, which does not give the correct proportion of the needed
elements to the system.
Exercise, as the body is usually weak, should be begun moderately but
as soon as possible be made brisk and active to stimulate the vital
organs to a more perfect performance of their function.
Plenty of oxygen must be secured by day and night and thorough
elimination be maintained.
The diet must be nutritious and richer than is ordinarily taken. Milk,
butter, cream, bacon, olive oil, and all fatty food should be freely
used if assimilated. Beefsteak, roast beef, fresh vegetables, and eggs
are valuable. Cocoa or chocolate, a glass of milk with a beaten egg, or
a cup of broth into which an egg has been beaten may be regularly taken
between meals.
If the digestion is feeble, light foods should first be taken and
increased as the system becomes able to assimilate more hearty food.
Coffee, tea, highly spiced foods, alcohol, fried food, rich pastry, and
much candy or sweet stuffs should be avoided.
Pain referred to the liver, if not caused by gall-stones, usually
indicates overwork of that organ, and fats, sweets, and starches should
be avoided to give the liver rest.
Pain referred to the stomach is often caused by tobacco smoking or
improper food, as too much candy or preserves, or too strong tea or
coffee. Attention to the diet will usually relieve this variety of
pain. If the pain comes on when the stomach is empty, due to a disorder
of the nerves, the food should be lessened in quantity, be light,
easily digested, and taken at shorter intervals.
Many conditions of the system due to dietetic errors which result in
impoverished blood are accompanied by pains in the stomach. These are
often neuralgic.
Poor assimilation of foods or indigestion produces pain because the
tone of the nervous system is affected from the poor blood.
Neuralgia of the stomach often occurs in anemic conditions associated
with constipation. In these cases a good, nutritious, but easily
digested diet and better elimination will often cure, but as the
changes in the blood and nerves are slow, one must be patient and
persistent.
There is no better nerve tonic than pure air, exercise, cheerful
thoughts, and rest.
Sweets, fried food, rich sauces, pastry, and highly seasoned food
should be avoided.
When neuralgia of the stomach, due to an underlying condition such
as rheumatism, gout, or diabetes occurs, the diet appropriate to the
condition will often affect the cure of the neuralgia.
[Sidenote: Chorea]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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