Preface Arthur Kestler in his book entitled The Intrinsic nature of Change, offers this conclusion. It is futile to try to arrive at an understanding or solution of the "intrinsic nature of chance" by conventional scientific common sense. The thing to do is to postulate that chance, which is of a higher dimension than the four dimensional world exists and to think that the postulate is an actuality. In short, chance is beyond understanding by conventional scientific common sense but it really does exist. Inevitability of chance may be an apt description. With regard to procreation and genesis of living things, particularly of human beings, for instance, the probability of the births of males and females should mathematically be 100 to 100. Actually, however, the ratio is 106 males to 100 females. Therein lies the inevitability arising from the mysterious rationality of nature. My connection with germanium started by chance, certainly, but I cannot help perceiving there's a working of some supernormal inevitability. If I may be permitted to express unhesitatingly my sensibility and fidelity to my thinking, I believe that my life is inextricably linked with germanium and that my germanium compound was divinely conferred on mankind through an actual being; that being happened to be I. It may have been presumptuous of me, but I have endeavored, from beginning to end, ultimately to suggest some unknown laws existing in the universe by interweaving emotional expressions among the intellectual contents presented as the main body of this book. When I review the seventy odd years of my life, I seem to find a consistent thread or a command from some outside source that transcends my own will which has determined my continued research of this amazing compound. Though I have not received a formal education in the field of modern medicine, I believe I have ample reverence for human life. The very essence of the healing arts must find its basis in the great premise of life itself. In other words, its substance must be religious like concept of saving the sick. Through germanium I have come to know the thrill of living. I want to experience that by forgetting myself and saving other. My encounter with germanium was indeed by chance but it is a substance understandable only through high level meditative deliberations with a highly sharpened mind. All my years of study with germanium have led me to know the wonderful action the germanium compound can have among all people. To disseminate this precious knowledge, without hesitation or timidity I raise my voice in praise of germanium. I hope that this small voice can reach the hearts of all my fellowmen. I have written in narrative style of my experience with germanium, and in order to penetrate the hearts and minds of men I have made use of some fables and parables, but all is genuine and based solely on fact. When I gaze upon the single crystal of germanium with its silver gray sheen, I have the illusion of seeing my whole life crystallized in this substance; I also feel, on the palm of my hand the touch of a substance I am tempted to describe as the fountain of life that fills the universe. Kazuhiko Asai, Ph.D. A Biographical Sketch of Kazuhiko Asia Dr. Kazuhiko Asai was born on the 30th of March, 1908 as the eldest son of Masajiro Asai who was working at that time as an educator of Chinese pupils in Dairen, Manchuria, the northeastern province of China. He stayed there until he was 10 years old; after that the family moved to Tokyo, where he graduated from the Imperial University of Tokyo, Faculty Jurisprudence, in 1932. In the spring of 1934 he was sent to Berlin as the representative of Okura trading Co., Ltd. He matriculated at the polytechnium in Charlottenburg, Berlin, in 1940, where he studied mining and metallurgy, for four yeas. He stayed in Berlin till its fall to the Russian army in 1945. He returned to Japan in July 1945 and established the Coal Research Institute, where he studied with several assistants the nature of coal in Japan. The institute has been instrumental in introducing steel beams and columns to replace wooden beams and columns in coal mines in this country. His research at the institute led to the discovery of germanium in coal and the extraction of germanium from coal gas waste liquid. In 1953 he represented Japan at the International Congress on the Study of Coal Structure. The same year he was appointed to teach the subject of coal petrology at the Second Engineering Department at Tokyo University and at the Science Faculty of Kyushu University. In 1957, he was awarded the Purple Order of Merit for his various achievements in the field of technical development. In 1962 a doctorate for technology by the University of Kyoto was conferred on him. In 1967 he received an award by the fuel Association. In 1969 the Asai Germanium Research Institute was established. In January 1975 he was elected a member of the New York Academy of Science. At present he continues his research and directs the Organic Germanium Clinic Dr. Asai is married to Erika (nee Hoelterhof) and has a son and three daughters. Introduction The tradition of Western medicine is now strong in Japan, and because I promulgate the theory of a common cause for all disease, I have incurred much opposition. Some doctors have even gone so far as to call for the eradication of this "amateur with no medical training who puts forth such irregular ideas. "So, while hoping that germanium will bring about a radical change in the fundamental philosophy of life in the medical world, I am also aware that I am likely to be exposed to violent denunciations. In the Germanium Clinic which I supervise, no pharmaceuticals are used, only my organic germanium. Therefore, when a patient comes to the Clinic he receives a medical examination and the appropriate prescription of germanium is given. In spite of the fact that no additional medicine is given, people come daily from all over Japan, and close to twenty per cent of them become so-called "germanium believers," continuing to take the compound over a long period. Of course, the purpose of the treatment has already been achieved, but repeated use has not once caused any side effects or any other complaint up to the present time, nor do I expect any in the future. On the other hand, requests from practicing physicians have greatly increased. Some of these doctors say that thanks to germanium, their patients are extremely grateful, and now without germanium they would be unable to continue their practice. The effect of the compound is so unlike that of any medicine heretofore discovered that I hesitate to call germanium a medicine. I would rather call it a health-giving substance - i.e., a substance which restores a condition of health to those afflicted with disease, and which sustains a condition of health in those who are healthy. The basis for this, first, is its seemingly universal applicability and beneficial effect in the treatment of apparently any disease in adults and children. Secondly, it is without the adverse effects associated with medicines as we know them. To my way of thinking there are three conditions for the treatment of disease which greatly affect recovery. These factors are supported by the latest advances in medical theory and endorsed by doctors working with the organic germanium compound. The principles of natural law form the basis for my thoughts and medical techniques, such as biorhythm, as well as acupuncture and natural herb therapy may be used in conjunction with them. The first condition for insuring the recovery of a person afflicted with disease is that he must have a firm conviction that he will recover. The expression "Heaven helps those who help themselves," should not be taken lightly. To a certain extent, the patient must become his own doctor in order to give full play to the healing powers of the body by personal involvement in the treatment. Underscoring this idea is the theory of electric potentials of as diseased organ as it related to stress as a cause of disease. Just as stress can be said to cause cancer, ulcers, and other diseases, the stress or strain developed in these particles cannot be reversed if the strain is not eliminated by restoring harmony of the mind. Biorhythm healing methods rely on just this sort of harmony. the second condition is the maintenance of proper diet. As mentioned previously, maximum effort should be made to maintain a balanced diet to prevent the blood from acidity, which happens if there is an excessive intake of hydrogen ions which consume the body oxygen and literally pollute the blood. the only way we can keep our blood clean and guarantee good health is by maintaining a proper acid-base balance. The third condition, a synthesis of the above two, is not a continuous combustion process to develop an oxygen deficiency. We remain alive because there is a continuous combustion process within the body to supply life sustaining energy, a process in which oxygen plays the main role. If no effort is made to maintain a healthy mind and body by avoiding stress and an imbalance diet, an oxygen deficiency will result. The main factor involved in the curative effect of germanium is the life style of the individual. Thus, on an individual basis success of treatment can be interpreted to be anywhere from 100 % to 0, depending on how well the patient follows the conditions of treatment.