MODULE – III : INTRODUCTION TO NATUROPATHY

9. Principles of Nature Cure

10. Nature Cure Methods – I (Akasha and
Vayu Tatva)
11. Nature Cure Methods – II (Agni, Jala and
Prithvi Tatva)
12. Latest Developments and Trends in Yoga
Principles of Nature Cure MODULE – III
Introduction to
Naturopathy

9
Notes

PRINCIPLES OF NATURE CURE

In the previous lesson you have learnt the meaning and definition of Dhyana and Mudra,
its importance, its classification and the practice of meditation and mudra. Now-a-days,
you must have heard people talking about treatment for illness, diseases and disorders
using natural methods. It has become so common these days that people have started
giving more importance to nature and use of natural products in daily life. Nature Cure
is a system of completely non-invasive health care where no drugs are used. It is a way of
life based on simple laws of nature and believes in the concept of vital force and toxic
matter. It is also called naturopathy or science of self-healing. As we all know that our
body is made up of five basic elements of nature i.e., Space (Akasha), Air (Vayu), Fire
(Agni), Water (Jala), and Earth (Prithvi) and the balance of these elements in the body is
required to keep us healthy. Nature cure system advocates changes in the lifestyle
incorporating good habits, regular exercise, proper diet and positive attitude. It helps in
rejuvenating the whole system leading to building up of pure blood and lymph and to
purify the cells and tissues so that there is no accumulated toxic matter in them and the
germs are rendered incapacitated. In this lesson you will learn the meaning of nature cure
system, its history and origin, basic cause of ailments and the principles of naturopathy.

OBJECTIVES

After reading this lesson, you will be able to:

z explain the meaning of nature cure system;

z explain the history and origin of nature cure system;

z discuss the basic cause of all ailments;

z describe the principles of naturopathy.

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MODULE – III Principles of Nature Cure

Introduction to
Naturopathy 9.1 HISTORY AND ORIGIN
In the recent years, naturopathy has gained much popularity and importance and has
evolved as a branch of healing science. Even though only in the recent years it has gained
popularity, its existence and mention can be traced to ancient times. Now let us learn the
origin and how Naturopathy evolved as a branch of healing science.
Notes
z Nature cure methods find mention in the Vedas and ancient texts. The concept of
vital force and foreign matter theory as mentioned in them indicate that these methods
were in practice in those times also. One can find description of water therapy and
fasting in many of our ancient texts to cure ailments.

z A German therapist Vincent Priessnitz (1799-1851) and Father Sebastian Kneipp

(1821-1897) a teacher and social worker turned naturopath, used water as a medium
to cure various ailments. Benedict Lust also learnt these powerful methods of healing
from Father Kneipp and used them in the USA.

z Dr. Louis Kunhe (1823-1907) also known as the father of Hydropathy got disillusioned
with the other systems of medicine. He used steam bath, hip bath, and sun bath, etc.
for healing. His books on the subject ‘New Science of healing’ and ‘Science of facial
expression’ were very famous.

z Dr Henry Lindlhar (1862-1924) also got disappointed with traditional medicines in

the cure of diseases and became a firm believer in naturopathy. His works include
‘Irridiagnosis’ and ‘The practice of Natural Therapeutics’.

z Adolf Just (1859-1936) is known for his discovery of healing properties of clay. His
famous work is ‘Return to Nature’. He was a firm believer that disease results due to
disregard of the laws of nature.

z The term Naturopathy was coined by Dr. John Scheel in 1895.

9.2 MAHATMA GANDHI AND NATURE CURE

In India, father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was a staunch believer and follower of
Nature cure and propagated it widely. Gandhiji’s conception of Nature Cure is therefore
much wider than what is generally understood by that term. It is not merely a cure of
disease after it has occurred but an attempt to prevent disease altogether by living
according to the laws of Nature which, according to him, are the same as the laws of God.
Accordingly it involves not only the use of earth, water, air, sunlight, fasts and such like
to cure disease, but even more a transformation of one’s entire life – physical, mental,
moral and social – through Ramanama or faith in God, alias His Law. It signifies a
complete change in the heart and mode of life of the individual, whereby the individual
comes to be in tune with the infinite and so obtains never-failing disease- conquering life
and strength from the Source of all life.

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Notes

Mahatma Gandhi applying earthen The book ‘Nature Cure’ written

soil to a patient by Mahatma Gandhi

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.1

1. The term naturopathy was coined by ....................

2. The book ‘New Science of Healing’ was written by Louis Kuhne. True/False

3. The father of Hydrotherapy is ....................

4. The book ‘Return to Nature’ was written by :

(a) Louis Kuhne (b) Adolf Just

(c) John Scheel (d) Mahatma Gandhi

5. The book ‘Nature cure’ was written by :

(a) Louis Kuhne (b) Adolf Just

(c) John Scheel (d) Mahatma Gandhi

9.3 PRINCIPLES OF NATURE CURE

Naturopathy is a self healing method where the internal vital energy (the energy of life
responsible for one’s health) of the body is strengthened to tackle all health problems. It
is therefore a ‘natural’ healing system. Nature cure is meant for all of us in order to lead
a healthy life. The practice of naturopathy includes a few basic principles based on several
observations of health and disease. Following the principles of nature cure, one can
prevent minor ailments from converting into chronic ones and thus lead a better life. The
principles are as follows:

9.3.1 Germs are not the Primary Cause of Disease

Germs need a fertile ground to multiply. This is provided by an unhealthy body. When the
body is ill-kept and has a lot of accumulated waste matter and toxins, the germs find a
suitable medium to grow upon. The chief means of preventing their growth is external as

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Naturopathy well as internal sanitation. This can happen only by the practice of natural living or the
art of living in accordance with the laws of nature. If our body has a lot of vital force or
in other words immunity, we can maintain good health level and prevent the germs from
affecting us. Hence, it is easy to understand that germs are not the causal agents for any
disease, but the lack of vital force and accumulated morbid matter in our body is the main
cause. There is nothing like a sudden infection or inflammation in the body. Germs or
pathogenic agents like bacteria, fungi, mycoplasma, viruses, or protozoa etc. can grow
Notes
only on a suitable medium. This suitable medium is what we call the foreign matter,
morbid matter, toxic matter, metabolic waste products or “vijatiya dravya” as called in
naturopathy. So if we keep our digestive tract completely clean, taking proper care of our
diet, these germs will not be able to grow at all and we can maintain a good health.

9.3.2 Unity of Disease and Unity of Treatment

The basic cause of all diseases is the same and that is accumulation of morbid matter in
the body. Nature cure methods eliminate this root cause in various ways. Since the cause
of the so called ‘diseases’ is same, it becomes easy to understand that the treatment is also
the same i.e., removal of these accumulated toxins from the body. This will automatically
result in elimination of the disease. The vital force of the body is supposed to be the
storehouse of physical as well as mental health and hence it should always be strengthened
and maintained at all levels. By following simple rules of Naturopathy, we can ward off
any disease. The cardinal point to remember here is that disease is reflected in the form of
headaches, insomnia, liver and kidney disorders, fatigue, loss of appetite, etc. This
indicates malfunctioning of the whole system. Hence, nature cure starts with the process
of healing by ‘short fasting’ followed by simple fruit and vegetable diet and cleansing of
the body to eliminate the accumulated waste. Thus it becomes easy to understand that
disease is nothing but negative health and thus remedy lies simply in restoration of health.
This is called the law of Unity of health and disease which is verified by the cure of all
diseases alike.

9.3.3 Nature itself is the best Healer

Our body has the inherent ability to restore health and maintain it. Living in accordance
with the basic laws of nature like natural and healthy diet, getting up early in the morning,
drinking sufficient water throughout the day and maintaining proper lifestyle can
eliminate any disease. This is the reason why we refer to nature as ‘mother nature’ because
only a mother can understand, help and heal children with her gentle care without even
being asked to do so. Disease of an acute nature is an effort of nature to heal the body. All
acute diseases (Diseases characterized by a sudden onset of distinct symptoms for a short
period of time) for example: common cold, indigestion etc. do not usually need any kind
of medication. All the symptoms that occur are infact nature’s effort of eliminating the
root cause and healing the system. One should know that such diseases have their own
course to run despite medication and if medicines are administered they result only in
suppression of the symptoms converting the simple acute diseases into severe chronic
ones. Hence, medications of any kind must be avoided and the focus should be on
strengthening the vital force of the body. This way it becomes easy to understand that
nature heals through the response of the vital force already present in our body. For this

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fasting, restricted diet, proper exercise and other naturopathic measures are necessary. Naturopathy
These eliminate the foreign matter, increase the vital power and clean up each cell and
tissue of our body and pave the way for nature to heal the body more vigorously.

9.3.4 Nature Cure is a Drugless Therapy

When any drug is administered to eliminate disease from the body, it may show immediate
relief for sometime but in the long run the effects may prove harmful, by converting simple Notes
diseases into more complicated ones. This is because these chemicals are foreign to our
body and anything which cannot be assimilated and foreign gets accumulated as waste
matter. This waste matter is now termed as foreign matter, morbid matter or “vijatiya
dravya” and is not required at all (fig. 9.1). Any method designed to suppress the
symptoms can prove harmful. Let us try to understand this through this example. If
someone has regular cold and he takes medicines to suppress the symptoms each time, he
will get only symptomatic relief and the root cause of the disease will still lie hidden
underneath. Hence, medication should be totally avoided. As drugs ruin our health in the
long run and the diseases with the passage of time may become less and less curable,
therefore, all forms of medications must be given up and we should adopt nature cure
methods. In naturopathy, food is used as medicine. Hence, naturopathy is called a
drugless therapy where body’s natural abilities to resist disease and to heal itself are
utilised instead of depending on any drug.

9.3.5 Nature Cure is Completely Harmless

Nature cure is a harmless therapy as it requires the use of five basic elements of nature
available abundantly all around us and further administration of any medicine is not
required. The symptoms appearing at various times are merely expressions of our vital
force attempting to heal us. Naturopathy hence tries to eliminate the root cause of diseases
i.e., removal of accumulated morbid matter in the body. The symptoms are not suppressed
by any means. Naturopathy includes non-invasive methods which do not interfere with
normal functions of the body. It is simply a way of life and helps us to live in harmony with
the nature. The naturopathic approach to healthcare believes in purifying the blood and
tissues and increasing the vital or immunity power of the body. Hence, it is completely
harmless.

9.3.6 Acute Diseases are our Friends and not Foes

Acute diseases are a result of faulty lifestyle and are expressions of the first stage of
disease progression. They are short-lived and can be cured in a short span of time by
aligning with the laws of nature. All that is needed here is to let the disease take its own
course and not obstruct the self-healing process of the body by taking suppressive drugs.
Naturopathy regards acute diseases as healing efforts of our body in order to throw out
the morbid matter as fast as possible. The first symptom in acute diseases is loss of
appetite, because nature diverts all the vital energy from digestive organs for elimination
of toxins. For this reason acute diseases are referred to as helpful attempts by nature to
clean up our system. On the other hand, when acute diseases are suppressed it leads to
great reduction in the power to eliminate the toxic filth. As a result, the disease becomes

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MODULE – III Principles of Nature Cure

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Naturopathy deep rooted and turns chronic in nature. Hence in primary stages of the disease, simply
abiding by the laws of nature and using nature cure methods like fasting, sunbath, water
cure methods, dietary reforms etc. we can overcome the problem much sooner. It can thus
be said that acute diseases are our friends helping us in self-healing.

9.3.7 Chronic Diseases take Some Time to Get Cured

Notes Chronic diseases are deep rooted and represent accumulation of a large amount of morbid
matter. The quantity of toxins in the body will decide the time required to be cured. That
is the reason chronic diseases take a longer time to get cured though they are also treated
successfully by using nature cure methods. In chronic diseases there is a great fall in the
level of vital force and the blood is also more impure losing its normal alkaline level. This
can be rectified by adopting the various nature cure methods like regular enema, sunbath,
dietary changes, fasting, etc.

9.3.8 Nature Cure Treats the Person and not the Disease
Positive/good health as well as negative/poor health are both conditions of the person as
a whole and a result of complex interactions of many factors. Nature cure aims at holistic
treatment by taking all factors into account i.e., physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
This is the reason why nature cure methods do not aim at healing just one organ or one
system. It detoxifies the whole body so that disease is also automatically eliminated.

9.3.9 Nature Cure does not require any Elaborate Tests

The methods of diagnosis in naturopathy are very simple and do not require any prolonged
or unnecessary laboratory tests that may lead to physical or financial discomfort to the
patient. It takes into consideration all aspects of body, mind and soul and the person does
not have to undergo the stress of various needless tests prevalent today.

9.3.10 Nature Cure believes in Power of Prayer

Prayer and faith in God play a very significant role in naturopathy. It not only removes
tensions and worries but also brings positive health, energy, peace and tranquility. This is
the foundation of good health. Nature is just a manifestation of God or the ‘supreme
power’. Thus abiding by laws of nature means that we have implicit faith in the supreme
power and also confidence in ourself. Many times ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ have proved to do
wonders even in cases of chronic ailments. It is now a well known fact that earnest prayers
and regular practice of meditation improves physical, mental and spiritual faculties.
Hence, prayers in any form and meditation should be a part of our daily life.

Besides these, a few more things to remember are as follows:

1. Most important thing to remember is to completely reform the diet. Fried and canned
food stuff is bad for our health. One should eat fresh and seasonal vegetables and
fruits. Salads and sprouts should also be incorporated in our daily diet.

2. White sugar and processed food items should be completely avoided.

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3. Maintain the blood alkalinity level as disease thrives in an acidic environment. Naturopathy
Fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables and raw food are good for health.

4. Disease cannot thrive in an oxygen rich environment. Therefore, it becomes absolutely

necessary to take walks and breathe in open and fresh air. You should also do
pranayama and exercise every day. This will supply fresh oxygen to each cell and
tissue of our body and detoxify them.
Notes

INTEXT QUESTIONS 9.2

1. Germs are not the primary cause of any disease. True/False
2. Acute diseases are harmful and thus should be suppressed. True/False
3. A simple way to cure all types of diseases is ....................
4. Nature cure treats
(a) the person as a whole (b) an organ
(c) the disease (d) none of the above

WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNT

In this lesson you have learnt that
z A person falls sick when his defence mechanism or in other words his vital force
becomes weak.
z If we follow simple rules and live in harmony with the rules of nature we will not fall
sick.
z Clean habits, simple diet, regular exercise, fresh air, occasional fasting, regular sleep
and calm mind are key to good health and happiness.
z Germs do not cause disease unless they find a suitable medium to thrive upon. An ill
kept body with accumulated waste matter suits them where they grow and multiply.
z We should not be scared of acute diseases. These indicate that something wrong is
going on in the body. If we immediately take the hint and make changes in our diet,
these lifestyle diseases can be easily cured.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in about 30 words

1. What is meant by life force?
2. Define Vijatiya Dravya.
3. What is the main cause of disease according to the nature cure therapy?

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MODULE – III Principles of Nature Cure

Introduction to
Naturopathy Answer the following questions in about 150 words
1. Explain how nature cure is a harmless therapy.

2. Explain the Power of Prayer briefly.

Answer the following questions in about 300 words

Notes 1. Who wrote the book ‘New science of healing’?

2. What is meant by vital force?

3. Explain why nature cure is a harmless therapy.

4. Give a detailed account of the basic principles of naturopathy.

ANSWERS TO INTEXT QUESTIONS

9.1
1. Dr. John Scheel 2. True 3. Louis Kuhne

4. (b) 5. (d)

9.2
1. True 2. False 3. Nature cure

4. (a)

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