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The Philosophy Of Natural Healing
From WikiVerde
Nowadays, increasing numbers of people all over the world are taking to a natural way of healing as an alternative to the usual allopathic drugs. Earlier, everyone was quick to turn to a medication even for a simple thing like dehydration, where perhaps only the symptoms are being treated, rather than going deeper to seek the actual cause of the trouble.
Natural Healing, breathing
Natural healing takes a holistic approach to wellness, including physical, mental, social and environmental aspects within its purview. Natural healing tries to prevent illness, instead of dealing blindly with the external manifestations of it. Many diseases are rooted in three intracellular reasons for ill health – malnutrition, toxicity or dehydration.
Practitioners of natural healing believe that human health is directly connected to the characteristics of ordinary organic elements and compounds that appear in nature. They feel the body can easily cure itself of most ills, under certain circumstances. With the assistance of natural products and remedies, the body can recover from ill health without the need to resort to strong antibiotics and painkillers, which often have nasty side-effects – often as unpleasant as the disease itself!
According to the basic principles of natural healing, a person’s health is influenced by factors that are within his or her own control. He or she can improve health and cure illness by taking preventive measures or making changes in habits such as food or diet.
The Balance of Nature
Our environment also greatly affects our health. Factors like water, the sun, atmosphere and soil, food habits, and conditions of climate, work and society are instrumental in the way we feel, both physically and mentally. When all these contributing factors act in harmony with each other, and our daily life smoothly integrates them, our state of health is good. But if we neglect some things and overdo others, we become at odds with our surroundings and fall ill. Natural healing is founded on the premise of balance, taking change, which is an essential part of life, into consideration. When you want to heal yourself, you must be aware that changing your state of health can be done. Then you must act on that belief, confident that your illness will alter to wellness.
Eat Well, Live Well
Health is also shaped by what we eat and the way we eat. Food is transformed into nutrients that keep our organs functioning smoothly. Some foods can be unhealthy, as also some methods of food preparation that use too much salt, oil or sugar. Excessive consumption of meat can also be harmful, and genetically modified food should be avoided.
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Natural Healing: More Than One Way
There are many systems that are effective methods of natural healing. These ways of bringing good health back include herbalism, naturopathy, yoga, tai chi, massage therapy, sauna, ayurveda, homeopathy, aromatherapy, sauna, Kniepp therapy, acupuncture, and special diets and exercise.
Vitalism is a core philosophy of natural healing which speaks of this inherent energy within each of us that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, described as the “greatest force in getting well”.
Holism attempts to treat the person as a whole rather than dealing with a particular symptom. So the natural healing energy within is focused entirely on the problem. Paracelsus, the father of modern medicine, believed that the defense mechanisms of an unhealthy body should be clearly comprehended, as well their difference from the manifestations of the actual disease. Holism considers illness as a temporary lack of equilibrium; equilibrium that will be recovered with the help of the patient’s own natural healing energies.
All these systems firmly believe in the body's ability to itself of disease and illness. While allopathic systems alleviate symptoms and help a patient ignore pain, it is the power of the healing energy within the patient that gets him or her on the road to recovery.
The Principles of Natural Healing
Let’s look at some of the basics tenets of natural healing. The most fundamental principle is the body’s own capacity to remove poisons or detoxification. This natural healing capacity and self-healing mechanisms keep the body healthy naturally.
The next basic factor in natural healing is proper digestion and assimilation of food. This is very important in proper nutrition and maintaining energy levels. Digestive health is a vital part of a sense of general well being.
Keeping stress levels low is an essential part of natural healing. Managing and reducing stress helps keep us healthy as well as happy. Exercise, leisure and relaxation keep stress under control.
Natural healing emphasizes the relevance of the immune system in good health. The immune system fights viruses, bacteria and the effects of foreign bodies so we must see that this aspect of our health is not neglected, and our susceptibility to disease is minimized.
The History of Natural Healing
The first natural healing initiative was represented by the Popular Health Movement, which developed in the early 1800s as a result of the general dissatisfaction with the medical treatment of the time. From 1830 to 1840, people reverted to old methods and techniques of healing that non-medical healers had used down the ages. This movement led to the introduction of natural healing methods such as Thompsonian Herbalism, hydrotherapy and eclectic medicine.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, American doctor and writer, remarked in 1860 that it would be better for the human race if our entire medical knowledge and material was relegated to the bottom of the ocean – though it might not be so good for the fish! The Progressive Era of Health Care Reform between 1890 and 1920 saw the emergence of naturopathy as a popular method of healing. This body of knowledge recommended a positive attitude, a good diet, plenty of exercise, body hygiene and fresh air. Today, natural healing is an accepted part of the cure and recovery from illness, and many natural health products and techniques are widely available. Take a break from the usual systems of medicine and try natural healing the next time you feel under the weather. You may never go back to allopathic medicines!
References
http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/news/food/spm_philosophy.asp
