This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the office of the Association, Arctic Crescent, Virginia Beach, Va., this 14th day of July, 1944, in accordance with request made by self - Mr. [5347], Associate Member of the Ass'n for Research and Enlightenment, Inc.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Jeanette Fitch, Stenos. Mr. [5347].

TEXT

1. GC: You will go over this body carefully, examine it thoroughly, and tell me the conditions you find at the present time; giving the cause of the existing conditions, also suggestions for help and relief of this body; answering the questions as I ask them.
2. EC: Yes, we have the body here, [5347].
3. Now, as we find, there are conditions which tend to disturb the body at specific periods. Hence, as is indicated, there are certain seasons or periods when the vibrations of the body, or the relationships which are established in the nerve centers, are such as to cause the body to become allergic to conditions which exist in or under certain environs, or certain pressure experienced by climatic reactions in the body.
4. These reactions come from what may be called or set up as vibrations in certain centers between sympathetic and cerebro-spinal system, and thus the body in such periods is subject to conditions which manifest in irritation to mucous membranes of the nasal passage and throat, bronchi and larynx or, as sometimes called, rose fever or such natures. These, for this body, are particularly from the ragweed.
5. Thus, we would find in this particular season, before there is the blossoming of same, the body should take quantities of this weed. Brew same, prepare, take internally and thus war or ward against the activity of this upon the body itself.
6. Then, through the period, also take that as an antiseptic reaction upon the nerves of the nasal passages, or the olfactory nerves of the body.
7. These will prevent, then, the recurrent conditions which have been and are a part of the experience of the body. This will enable the body to become immune because of the very action of this weed upon the digestive system, and the manner it will act with the assimilating body, too. Well, just don't get too heavy, for it will make for an increase in the amount of assimilation and distribution of food values for the body.
8. Thus we would prepare the compound in this manner: Take a pint cup, gather the tender leaves of the weed, don't cram in but just fill level. Put this in an enamel or a glass container and then the same amount (after cleansing of course, don't put dirt and all in but put in same amount by measure) of distilled water, see? Reduce this to half the quantity by very slow boiling, not hard but slow boiling, strain and add sufficient grain alcohol as a preservative.
9. Begin and take it through the fifteen days of July and the whole of August, daily, half a teaspoonsful each day.
10. Thus, we will find better eliminations, we will find better assimilation, we will find better distribution of the activities of foods in the body.
11. Then, use through the latter portion of August and September, this as a combination: prepare in the manner indicated, putting together the ingredients only in the order named. First we would prepare a bottle with a large-mouth, two vents through the cork and these vents capable of being corked themselves with a small cork. Neither of the vents is to enter the solution, so use a six ounce container. In this container put four ounces of grain alcohol (at least 90% proof), then add in the order named:

    Oil of Eucalyptus.................20 minims,
Rectified Oil of Turp..............5 minims,
Compound Tincture of Benzoin......15 minims,
Oil of Pine Needles...............10 minims,
Tolu in Solution..................10 minims.

12. When this is to be used, shake the solution together, remove the corks from the vent, inhale deep through the nostril so as to enter the nasal passages, also to the upper and back portions of throat, both passages. Shake between each deep inhalation.
13. Do these and we'll have better conditions for the body. Do for the body-forces use wheat germ in the morning meal with the cereal, which may be taken a teaspoonful over a good bowl of cereal, then add the cream and a little sugar if desired.
14. Do these and we'll have bettered conditions for this body, [5347].
15. Ready for questions.
16. (Q) To the amount of the ragweed we would use how much alcohol?
    (A) That should be done by the prescritionist or the chemist, just to preserve same.
17. (Q) How can I gain correct weight?
    (A) Read what has just been given. The addition of this to the body, with the effect it will have upon the activity of the liver and the actions through the body-forces, will aid in better assimilation, in the amount taken, see?
18. (Q) How can I keep from being mentally tired, and be more alert in mind and body?
    (A) As we find, when better physical conditions are established; that is, coordination between sympathetic nervous system, cerebro-spinal nervous system and the sensory organ centers, through the emunctory patches along the body-forces, by ridding the body of this tendency of allergy towards certain elements left out of the body-forces in the vibratory natures, we will find the body more physically and mentally alert.
19. (Q) Is there anything wrong with me physically that would prevent procreation?
    (A) There is nothing wrong and, as has been indicated, the addition of the wheat germ is that which is lacking in a vitamin necessary for stirring of energies through these areas of body-forces. Do as given, we will have bettered conditions for this body.
20. We are through with this reading.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to Ass'n file
    Copy for indexing
    (See extra sheets of directions [which were enclosed] to be sent to Mr. T. R. Wirsing, druggist, 1001 3rd St., S.W. Roanoke, Va., who will prepare the two compounds for you.)

BACKGROUND

1. Questions submitted other than those which got asked: "1. How can I avoid having an annual attack of hay fever each August and September? Calif. is the only place I have been so far where I am immune to it. 2. I have always been very much underweight. 3. My wife and I have been married 7 months and have always wanted a son."

REPORTS

1. 9/08/44 [5347]'s letter: "I have benefited from my Physical Rdg. and Life Reading that were given 7/14/44 and expect to continue to benefit more and more as I study them and heed their advice."
2. 3/24/49 Report requested by GD.
3. 12/24/68 He wrote for a copy of his readings, saying he had mislaid them: "The health part of the reading contains some remedies for hay fever. I would like the complete reading, especially the Life Reading."
4. 9/12/71 Mr. Armentrout's letter:
   Cedar Rapids, Iowa
   Association for Research & Enlightenment P.O. Box 595 Virginia Beach, VA 23451
   Gentlemen:
   Words will never be able to express my appreciation for the July issue of the A.R.E. Journal. I am 40 years old and have suffered from a lifetime affliction of ragweed allergy. I have never bothered taking the troublesome shots preferring to suffer through the 6 to 8 week ragweed season. Neither had I seen a doctor for quite some time having concluded years ago that the prescription antihistamine pills and allergic pills were no more superior than those sold over the counter.
   So the hay fever season for me was one of staying in where the air conditioning did some filtering of pollen from the air and taking endless antihistamine pills and nose sprays and generally suffering thru the agonizing symptoms of hay fever. Some antihistamine pills seem to help, some don't, some seem to wear out on their effectiveness, and anyway they can only be taken for short lengths of time because extreme drowsiness sets in after two or three days straight on the pills. I always had to curtail swimming during August because the chlorinated water was too abrasive on the red, swollen and sensitive nostrils and eyes. But thanks to the Cayce readings printed in the July A.R.E. Journal, this year was quite different.
   I began eating the leaves of the ragweed plant immediately upon reading the article July 7, 1971 and continued thru September 11, 1971. True to the Cayce readings I found the ragweed leaves to be quite bitter in taste on the first occasion but I didn't mind it after that. Also true to the Cayce readings a little over indulgence caused some marked differences in assimilation and elimination. But the beautiful thing about it was that throughout August no hay fever symptoms ever developed. This year I rode my bicycle up and down roads which were lined with ragweed and also walked thru woods and pastures which were thick with ragweed. (Iowa has the highest ragweed pollen counts of any location in the nation.) This was one of the worst seasons for hay fever sufferers and all of my ragweed allergic friends suffered terribly even though some had been taking the year round shots. I went swimming throughout August with no discomfort at all and forgot about pills.
   The fact that I was not suffering from hay fever this year caused quite some consternation among my hay fever suffering friends. I frankly told them all what I was doing and the source of the information, but nobody believed a word of it. Some called their doctors and demanded to know why they couldn't be cured of hay fever, but their doctors told them there was nothing they could do but take shots the year around or the pills. All the experiences I had with friends who are sufferers would fill up a letter in itself. I would be glad to give many more details about this whole subject if you are interested.
   Looking back over this past hay fever season it now seems about unbelievable to me; a cure for hay fever is miraculous.
   Many thanks again for publishing that article on ragweed.
   Yours truly, Harold D. Armentrout 6801 Devonshire Drive, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
   [10/07/71 GD's note: See also rdg. 404-13 and 903-35, Par. 18-A for references to eating ragweed.]
5. 9/30/71 Mr. Armentrout's letter:
   Cedar Rapids, Iowa
   Association for Research & Enlightenment P.O. Box 595 Virginia Beach, VA 23451
   Dear Mr. Robert 0. Clapp:
   You may, by all means, use all or any portion of my letter of September 12 in any publication that you wish. There is really little more that can be added to that letter except possibly some more detail in my allergic friends consternation about the whole thing.
   We had become avid Edgar Cayce fans since I accidently ran across a copy of EDGAR CAYCE, MAN OF MIRACLES a couple of years ago, but our circle of friends and relatives had treated the whole story with complete skepticism. I was delighted to learn that a reading had been done on ragweed allergy not only for my own benefit but for the potential it might have to convince some skeptics. I had felt that anyone who has suffered thru the agony and misery of hay fever would be willing to do anything to find relief. However, when we told everyone we knew as a sufferer about the reading in early July each one laughed it off as an old wives tale.
   Our next door neightbor's wife declared flatly she wouldn't go near a ragweed plant and she suffered thru this season as per usual even though she takes the year around shots.
   I share my office with an electronic engineer whom I have worked with for about 8 or 9 years. (I am a mechanical engineer) In the past we had exchanged information on the latest antihistamine and allergic pills and literally cried on each others shoulders during the season. This past season my colleague asked me every morning during August if I had felt any hay fever symptoms as yet and the answer was always no. As the month drew on and his hay fever suffering became more and more acute, he kept closer and closer tabs on me looking for any tell-tale indications of hay fever. Although not convinced of my treatment he was convinced of the cure and it was he who in utter frustration called his doctor and demanded to know why he couldn't be cured of hay fever.
   The reaction I really wanted to get though is a friend of ours who is a practicing psychiatrist and himself a sufferer of ragweed allergy. This individual is a very warm and jovial person who takes a lot of ribbing about his occupation but counters with his own jokes about psychiatrists. In the past he had always handled his allergy like the rest of us by curtailing all outdoor summer activities, taking antihistamine pills and complaining profusely about the misery. This year he and his wife spent most of August vacationing outside of Iowa with the intended purpose of avoiding the high pollen counts here in Iowa. When they arrived back in Iowa on the last weekend of the month I was enthusiastically telling him about my experiences with hay fever this year when he politely informed me he didn't believe a word of it.
   Perhaps you will find these experiences either amusing or interesting. These experiences are what I had in mind about furnishing additional details.
   Yours truly, Harold D. Armentrout 6801 Devonshire Drive, N.E. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation