Naturopathy uses elements of nature to treat diseases. Nature is made of five elements – Jal ( water), Vayu (air), Agni (fire), Akash (sky), and Prithvi (Earth). These elements also constitute our body. We get sick when there is an imbalance in these elements in our body. Our body reacts to this imbalance and tries to get rid of impurities through cough, vomiting, fever, etc. Therefore, it is beneficial to cure diseases not through drugs or surgery, but with the help of these five elements of nature.
Naturopathy says that our bodily functions are guided by nature’s vital forces, therefore a holistic approach must be followed for curing ailments. The body has a natural tendency to heal and naturopathy only facilitates the process of healing through the energy of nature.
The main principles of Naturopathy are astounding. First, the reasons and remedies for all diseases are the same; ailments develop due to the presence of intoxicants which need to be removed. Second, the intoxicants cause diseases, not bacteria and viruses which simply feed off them. Third, nature itself is the best ‘doctor’, the patient is cured, not the ailment. All levels of the body are treated simultaneously. The best part is that no medicines are used as Naturopathy is a medicine in itself.
The principles of Naturopathy were first used by the Hippocratic School of Medicine in about 400 BC (but it is believed to be a much more ancient therapy practiced in India). The Greek philosopher Hippocrates believed in viewing the whole person to find a cause of the disease and using the laws of nature to induce a cure. It was from this original school of thought that Naturopathy takes its principles.
The healing power of nature
There is always an underlying cause, be it physical or emotional. A naturopath will never use treatments that may create other conditions. When preparing a treatment plan, all aspects of a person’s being are taken into consideration. A naturopath empowers the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health by teaching self-care. They remove toxic substances and situations from a patient’s lifestyle to prevent the onset of further disease.
So as far as Naturopathy is concerned, it has it’s three aspects. The first is preventive, the second one is curative and the third one is health promotive aspect. In other systems the patient need not understand the technicalities involved in treatment but in Nature Cure treatment, the patients are required to have a good understanding of the laws governing health and disease. They are grounded well in respect of laws of Nature and are advised to follow them strictly for restoration of health. Health can only be restored or preserved or promoted or prevented from diseases by living in harmony with Nature.
Nature cure is an approach that focuses on helping your body heal itself using natural methods, without drugs or medicines. It believes that when harmful substances build up in your body, you get sick. Instead of adding more chemicals (drugs), it aims to remove these harmful things so you can get well.
There are two main ideas behind nature cure:
- Indian view: Our body is made of five elements (earth, water, sun, air, and space). Imbalances between these elements cause illness, and using these elements (like herbs or sunlight) can help restore balance and health.
- Dr. Lindlahr’s view: This perspective considers nature cure as a way to live in harmony with nature, taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Not everyone can be cured by nature cure, but it can be helpful depending on your individual health and “vitality” (your body’s natural healing power). People often seek natural cures for various conditions like digestive problems, breathing issues, heart problems, and more. Some even see improvements after trying other treatments first. Nature cure is about living a natural, healthy lifestyle. It includes methods like mud baths, enemas, heat and cold treatments, and sun exposure.
