Naturopathy

Nature Cure is rightly described as a system of man living in harmony, with constructive principles of nature on physical, mental, moral and spiritual planes of living. Health is normal and constitutes a harmonious vibration of the elements and forces composing the human entity at the physical and mental level in conformity with the constructive principles of nature as applied to individual life.

Disease is abnormal and an unharmonious vibration of the elements and forces constituting the human entity. The primary cause of disease is violation of mother nature's laws. Most of the health scientists are of the view that many diseases from which mankind is afflicted are the out come of wrong life styles, food habits and increasing pollution in the environment. Nature cure is a very old science of healing and method of living and has great promotive, curative & rehabilitative potentials.

For treatment, the system, primarily lays emphasis on correcting all the factors involved and allows the body to recover itself. The nature cure physicians simply help in nature's efforts to overcome disease by applying correct natural modalities and Channelising the natural forces to work under safe limits.

Most of the principles and practices of Naturopathy like Morbid Matter Theory, Fasting, Nutrition, Dietetics, Cleansing acts, Exercises, Massage, Longevity have been in practice in some form or the other and are well known to our ancient Vaidyas, Seers and Saints. Because of this, natural modalities and concepts form an integral part of Indian way of living, thinking tradition and culture.

Naturopathy believes that the natural method of living and of treatment are :
Return to Nature by the regulation of eating, drinking, breathing, talking, standing, sitting, bathing, dressing, working, resting, thinking the moral life, sexual and social activities etc., on a normal and natural basis.

Eliminatory Remedies such as water, air, light, earth, magnetism, electricity etc.

Bio-chemical Remedies such as scientific live food, selection and combination of natural food, juices.

Mechanical Remedies such as corrective physical culture, yogic practices, massage, magnetic treatment, accupressure, water treatment.

Mental and spiritual remedies such as scientific relaxation, normal suggestions, constructive thought, the prayer of faith etc.

Three types of broadly classified diets include :

Eliminative diet: liquids lemon - citric juices -tender coconut water, vegetable soups, buttermilk etc.

Soothing diet: such as fruits, salads, boiled /steamed vegetables, sprouts, vegetable chutney.

Constructive diet: such as wholesome flour, unpolished rice, little pulses, sprouts, curd, less spicy curries ete.

Naturopathy believes that organism is composed of five great elements of nature and the soul: Earth, tissues, muscles and bones. Water, fluids, blood, Lymph Air, the vital force, oxygen and carbon-dioxide.

Ether, vacuum, cavities, lungs, stomach, intestines, uterus, urinary bladder. v) Universal soul, individual soul.

Naturopathy adopts the following diagnostic methods

Full life case- history covering all the facts of life, since birth.

Facial diagnosis - the science of facial expressions by studying the various characteristic features upon the body.

Iris diagnosis - study of iris indicating the condition of various visceral organs. iv) Modern clinical diagnosis to some extent.

The methods applied for cure in Naturopathy are the following :

Water therapy : Water is the most ancient of all the remedial agents. It is employed in different forms in treatment and produces several types of physiological effects depending upon temperature and duration. Hydrotherapy is employed in almost all types of disease conditions.

Air therapy : Fresh air is essential for good health. Air therapy is employed in different pressures and temperatures in variety of disease conditions.

Fire therapy: Existence of all the creatures and forms depends upon "Agni" (Fire). In Nature Cure treatment, different temperatures are employed through different heating techniques to produce different specific effects.

Space therapy: Congestion causes disease. Fasting is the best therapy to relieve congestion of body and mind.

Mud therapy : Mud absorbs, dissolves and eliminates the toxins and rejuvenates the body. It is employed in treatment of various diseases like constipation, skin diseases etc.

Food therapy: Most of the disease are amenable through food therapy. As you eat so will you be physically as well as mentally. Your food is your medicine. These are the main slogans of Nature Cure.

Massage therapy: Massage is generally employed for tonic, stimulant and sedative effects. It is an effective substitute for exercise.

Accupressure: There are different points on hands, feet & body which are associated with different organs. By applying pressure on these selected points, related organs can be influenced for getting rid of their ailments.

Magneto therapy: Magnets influence health. South and North poles of different powers and shapes are employed in treatment, by applying directly on different parts of the body or through charged up water or oil.

Chromo therapy: Sun rays have seven colours -violet, indigo, blue, green yellow, orange and red. These colours are employed through irradiation on body or by administering charged water, oil and pills for treatment.

Naturopathy has been found to be efficacious in the following disease conditions :

i) Asthma (Allergic & Bronchial) ii) Amoebiasis iii) Anaemia iv) Anxiety Neurosis v) Allergic Skin Diseases vi) Cervical spondylosis vii) Chronic non - healing ulcers viii) Colitis ix) Cirrhosis of liver x) Constipation xi) Depression xii) Diarrhoea xiii) Dysentery xiv) Diabetes Mellitus xv) Eczema xvi) Facial paralysis xvii) Flatulence xviii) Gastritis xix) Gout xx) Hemiplegia