Barefoot Doctor  An alternative look at health issues. This
week: attaining the ultimate high, divesting yourself of piles
and venting your spleen What is the ultimate high? And why do so
many of us expend so much time, energy and money looking for it?
Being catapulted 1,000ft in the air in the front seat of a
glider, bungee jumping from a bridge or abseiling off a cliff
are all adequate metaphors for the ultimate high. Any external
experience that pushes you up against death will trigger the
release of adrenaline, the internally produced chemical most
associated with the high of a peak experience.  Others are more
inclined to take their brush with death less dramatically, by
ingesting psychotropic substances or meditating. Le petit mort ,
the little death experienced during orgasm, is a big favourite,
as is the momentary loss of self while dancing or playing live
music. Even clinching business deals can produce an ecstatic
effect.  But unless you've learned to defy the basic laws of
gravity, the problem with