I receive so many calls from people suffering from sun-phobia that I had to write this article to help alleviate their fears. Dr. John R. Christopher spent a lifetime trying to help people live a healthy, natural lifestyle that included plenty of sunshine, wholesome food, deep breathing of clean air, and grounding by going bare foot. All these concepts are valuable and work synergistically. 

Sun exposure therapeutic affects the body in the following ways: the immune system through the creation of Vitamin D, the skin via melanin for protection, the eyes that require full spectrum light, the brain via release of anti-depressants and mood modifiers, the circulatory system via release of nitric oxide, and all cellular structures by stimulating release of melatonin to counter the byproduct of oxidative stress created as the mitochondria constantly produce energy.

Dr. Roger Seheult relates that many well-designed studies show benefit of sun exposure. One such study done in southern Sweden, which randomly chose 30,000 women to participate in a long-term study of 20 years. In this study precise observation showed those women that had sun avoiding exposure had a higher mortality than those that went freely into the sun.[1]

Science is never absolute, and its very existence depends on constant challenges, especially through new research. Patterns of anecdotal experiences trigger new studies which challenges or confirms existing scientific theories.

Dr. Christopher’s “anecdotal,” experience with melanoma skin cancer hopefully will trigger a plethora of case histories that will lead to studies and eventual challenges to medical dogma on the sun causing cancer. 

Dr. Christopher had a patient with melanoma in an area that never had exposure to the sun. He was a sheepherder who’s face and hands had constant sun exposure with no cancer, yet his lower abdomen, which never had exposure had a melanoma tumor. Upon discovering that the man was isolated all summer, Dr. Christopher recommended that the sheepherder herd his sheep, the entire summer, without clothes. He instructed him to build up his time in the sun, starting with two minutes the first day and adding two minutes each day. [2] He was also instructed to fill his chuck-wagon with only grape juice, and this was to be his only sustenance the entire summer. He returned in the fall very healthy and cancer free.

If we follow Dr. Christopher’s lifestyle and dietary advice, eating nothing but wholesome food, raised organically and in it’s fresh living state, we too can enjoy the benefits of the sun and remain cancer free. We never want to burn our skin and we need to get all the nutrient, especially antioxidants, from fresh raw produce. May we all be healthy and cancer free.
 

David Christopher is a Master Herbalist, director of The School of Natural Healing, and son of our beloved Dr. John R. Christopher. He is continually helping others improve their health and that of their family members. The School loves having him as the director.