Fereydoon Batmanghelidj

Batmanghelidj, Fereydoon (Age 73) Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, M.D., an internationally renowned researcher, author and advocator of natural medicine died on November 15 at Fairfax Hospital. He was 73. The cause was complications from Pneumonia. Born in Iran, Dr. Batmanghelidj attended Fettes College in Scotland, and was a graduate of St. Mary s Hospital Medical School of London University, where he had studied under Sir Alexander Fleming. He practiced medicine in The United Kingdom before returning to Iran where he was instrumental in the development of hospitals and medical centers. He also established a number of sport projects for the advancement of youth in the country, including the construction and management of the Ice Palace in Teheran, the first ice skating and sports complex in the Middle East. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979 Dr. Batmanghelidj was placed in the infamous Evin Prison as a political prisoner for two years and seven months. With limited access to conventional medication, he discovered the healing powers of water while treating more than 3,000 fellow prisoners who suffered from peptic ulcer. He considered this environment as an  ideal stress laboratory and began extensive research into the medicinal effects of water. Dr. Batmanghelidj discovered that a careful regimen of water drinking could prevent, relieve and can even cure many painful degenerative diseases that are today treated with drugs. After his release from prison in 1982, and a harrowing escape over the mountains into Turkey, Dr. Batmanghelidj came to America. At the University of Pennsylvania, he immediately continued his research into the role of water metabolism in the human body, and the damaging effects of dehydration on human health. He published and lectured extensively, and presented scientific papers at US and International conferences. He spent the last 20 years researching the natural healing power of water and contribution of unintentional dehydration as cause of many degenerative diseases. He created the Foundation for the Simple in Medicine, and Global Health Solutions publishing to promote public awareness of the health values of water. His messge to the world is  You are not sick, you are thirsty; don t treat thirst with medication. His ground breaking book, Your Body s Many Cries for Water , has been translated into fifteen languages and has sold over a million copies. He has numerous other books, educational material and scholarly publications to his credit. His work has created an international community that embraced him simply as Dr. B. Survivors include his wife, Xiaopo Huang Batmanghelidj of Virginia, Son Ardeshir Batmanghelidj of Massachusetts, Daughter Camila Batmanghelidj of London, England, Son Babak Batmanghelidj of Virginia, four grandchildren, and his first wife Lucile Batmanghelidj of London, England. Services will be held Saturday November 20 at 11:30 a.m. at Falls Church Presbyterian Church on 225 East Broad Street (Off Rt. 7) in Falls Church. To contact the church call 703-532-6519