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     Medical science makes it a point to advise that foods such as red pepper, mustard, or wasabi should be avoided as they are not good for those with diseased conditions, but this advice is truly absurd. These condiments greatly assist in increasing the appetite and stimulating the activity of the stomach, and for these purposes God created them. For example, even one piece of sashimi, without wasabi is tasteless. Natto is the same; without wasabi, the taste is reduced by half.
     Medical science probably expounds this theory because of hemorrhoids. When hemorrhoid patients eat spicy, salty foods, these foods get mixed with the excrement, and aggravate the rectum, causing pain. That is the only reason. Since salty, spicy foods do not influence other diseases, hot, spicy foods can be eaten without concern.
     In connection to the above, there is another interesting aspect. That is, there is a theory that grapes are the cause of appendicitis. Every time I am asked about this, this is how I reply, laughing it off. If grape seeds caused appendicitis, then eating persimmon seeds should lead to instant death.
     The reason for the preceding theory seems to be the following. When performing an appendectomy, a doctor in France happened to find a grape seed in the appendix, so he thought the cause of appendicitis are grape seeds. Because he publicized this theory, it spread worldwide, but actually this idea is nothing but nonsense.

“Karai Mono o Sakeru” appeared originally on the second page of Kyūsei, Issue 49, February 11, 1950. Although no translations are known to exist, “Karai Mono o Sakeru” was reprinted in the anthology Igaku Kankei Goronbun Shū (Collected Essays on Medical Science) that did enjoy a limited circulation. Igaku Kankei Goronbun Shū contains no publication data, but internal evidence suggests that its editing stopped several months preceding Meishu-sama’s Ascension. Furthermore, since the book lacks publication data, whether the volume had Meishu-sama’s imprimatur or not is unknown, so details concerning this volume are probably impossible to research.