Herbs for Health

Richard Schulze

Where did Richard Schulze get his exuberant energy, his zest for life and his drive to tell the world "I do believe that everyone can be healed of any disease."? It started at the age of 16. Chest pains and numbness in his left arm sent him to see a doctor. He was concerned as both his parents had already died of heart disease. Both the diagnosis and the prognosis were grim–tests and x-rays showed he had deformed heart valves. Without surgery he was told he would only live to about the age of 20. He was scared. He didn't want to die so he entered the hospital to prepare and wait for surgery. While there, he became friends with Bob, another heart patient in the ward. Bob didn't return to the ward after surgery. When young Schulze learned that Bob had died in surgery, he quickly dressed and ran from the hospital.

He sought the advice of his Great Aunt Hattie. He remembered her herbal preparations had helped him in times of sickness as a child. In addition to herbs, he sought advice on natural healing everywhere. He started juicing and he gradually changed his diet. He started to get regular exercise as well. He also discovered, "You have to learn how to give and receive love to have a healthy heart." Three and one-half years later he returned to see the doctor. The doctor was amazed at the x-rays and test results–Richard's heart valves were normal. The doctor told Schulze a miracle had happened. Schulze agreed but added that he had worked very hard for that miracle to happen.

A few years later Richard was working in a lab at a Naturopathic College when he accidentally spilled boiling oil over his hand. A medical specialist told him the flesh was burned to the bone–a 4th degree burn. He was told skin grafts would be necessary as the skin was completely destroyed. When he learned the skin for the grafts would be taken from his "butt," he declined any operations. His inner voice told him to try Nature's way. In 30 days he returned to show the doctor his hand. It was covered with fresh skin. Again the doctor said it was a miracle and again Richard said he had worked very hard for the miracle.

Schulze's next miracle occurred after a skiing accident. He heard a loud popping sound before becoming unconscious. When he awoke, one leg was limp with no knee strength. Again he visited a specialist. X-rays indicated ligaments and cartilage were destroyed. Again he was told the solution was surgery so ligaments could be transplanted from a donor. He left the doctor's office determined to create another 30-day miracle. After 30 days, however, he still wasn't able to walk. But in 60 days he was walking with a limp. In 90 days his knee was restored and he was able to walk normally. Again he returned to the doctor. "It's a miracle," the doctor exclaimed. "Yes," agreed Richard, but I did a lot of work to create this miracle."

In his hunger to learn about natural healing methods, Richard Schulze studied under two great healers. The first was Bernard Jensen. Tuition fees at Jensen's health ranch were $900. Richard sold his car for exactly that amount and hitch-hiked to the ranch. He was able to pay the fee but when the students all left to stay in a motel at the end of the day, he realized he needed a place to sleep! Without anyone being the wiser, Schulze slept in a hollow in the hedge bordering Jensen's property throughout the course. In the morning, he showered using a yard sprinkler. Later at the school of famed herbalist, John Christopher, Schulze became a teacher and practitioner. Incurables came to the school for help and Schulze started to realize the extent to which people could be helped with herbs and natural healing methods. With experience, he became convinced that herbal formulas needed to be strengthened to meet the increasing toxicity of the environment and deteriorating food sources. Many traditional herbal formulas, he felt, were not strong enough for today's world.

In the 1970's, when Schulze opened a clinic in California, he developed his own herbal preparations. Over a 20-year period, he often helped people who were dying. He quickly learned what it took to get people well. For those who came to him, he prepared potent herbal products using carefully chosen organically-grown herbs in high dosages. He developed a program for incurables and his clinic became known as a place where those who had no other hope would find help. Schulze says he was not trying to cheat death–he recognizes physical death as a natural and beautiful process. He says, "When we finally die after living a healthy natural lifestyle, what I have seen is we go with no pain, a big smile on our face…" Having said that he quickly points out that he respects the individual's freedom to choose: "Forcing someone to submit to natural healing is no different than someone forcing you to take drugs and have surgery."

He admits, as well, that many people who entered his clinic were not willing to do what is necessary to reverse their diseases naturally. He would not work with anyone who wasn't fully committed to taking responsibility for their own health and to regaining health.

He knew he had to be inconspicuous to avoid legal prosecution for treating people with diseases. There were no signs on his clinic and the windows were covered. Government regulators, however, targeted him as a result of a lecture he delivered at a convention. Government agents with battering rams, bulletproof vests, and machine guns broke in one night and carted him off to jail. He escaped a jail sentence on a technicality but knew he had to be careful. He closed his clinic. With a young family, his mission now is to inform those who are hungry for information about natural healing. He lectures and offers booklets, audiotapes and videotapes through The School of Natural Healing. The video programs, in particular, give step-by-step instructions on how to reverse debilitating diseases. A strong desire to regain health is necessary as the process of getting well becomes a full-time job in the early stages. Schulze explains methods to cleanse or clear toxins from the body–no small task in the beginning if an advanced disease is present. He also explains methods to increase circulation to speed healing, methods to rebuild tissue and methods to stay well. Schulze makes his potent herbal formulae and tinctures - formulated for today's more toxic world–available through the American Botanical Pharmacy.

"Many people," Schulze says, "want information specific to their disease." However, in his practice he found, "…the basics of getting and staying well are so powerful, that 98% of the time specifics are not necessary." See Recommended Products.