Introduction
In this chapter we will understand about origin and definition of the word Naturopathy, how it treats illness, its principles and the Benefits of Naturopathy Treatment.
What is Holistic Health?
- Holistic Health refers to looking after(to take care of) your body, mind, and emotions, maintaining a good relationship with society, and keeping the environment clean and safe.
Introduction: Origin and Definition
The Origin
- The word “Naturopathy” arises from the combination of 2 words Natura + Pathos.
- Natura originates from Latin which means Nature.
- Pathos originates from Greek which means disease.
Definition
- Naturopathy is a therapy in which we use natural ways such as sunlight, water, fresh air, heat, and massage to help our body stay healthy instead of allopathic medicines and surgery.
How does Naturopathy treat illness?
- When someone gets sick, Naturopathy starts treating them right away so that the patient will feel better right from the very beginning of their sickness.
- Naturopathy is not just a treatment but it’s a way of living in which we use various methods to stay healthy and happy.
- Through Naturopathy treatment one can become free from all forms of physical and mental disease.
Some Principles of Naturopathy
- By following the Basic principles (Rules) of Naturopathy carefully, one can understand and use naturopathy in the best way possible.
- Naturopathy aims to improve our health by focusing on the root cause of the disease. Therefore if a patient comes for treatment for a cold, Naturopathy does not just treat cold symptoms but also aims to heal the whole body.
- Some principles of Naturopathy are:
- According to Naturopathy, all disease is born from a single Main cause. Let’s understand this with an example: A Tree can have many Branches. Similarly, different diseases are classified as Allopathy. Branches can look different but all the branches come from the same trunk of the Tree. So According to Naturopathy, all diseases are born from a single Main cause. That single cause can be
- Poor Diet
- Stress
- Weak Immune system
- Psychological problems etc.
- And therefore Naturopathy tries to fix that single main cause instead of focusing on the branches of the tree; it focuses on the root of the tree.
- Naturopathy stresses us to eat, play, move our body, relax, and calm our body to make our mind and body stay healthy and feel happy, strong, and full of energy.
- In Allopathy, doctors consider a person healthy if they fit into a particular height or weight and check size categories. However, Naturopathy does not consider a person to be healthy based on height, weight, or size. Being healthy means feeling strong and happy physically and mentally and enjoying doing any activities without feeling sick.
- Real or True health or Holistic Health refers to a state where a person feels happy, calm, peaceful steady mind and strong and energetic body. Such health cannot be manufactured in a factory cannot be sold as pills or can be given as a gift. True.
- Many people think that the best time to feel healthy and energetic is during childhood or adulthood. However, most people don’t experience this. Today children and young people get so many hard tasks from school and live such busy lives that are not able to enjoy their childhood and youth.
- If we view naturopathy as a lifestyle or a set of practices that helps us to stay healthy all the time, we can take care of our health on our own using it without needing a doctor.
- Naturopathy is not only used to treat illness. It teaches us how to live a healthy and happy life every day.
- Naturopathy is neither recently created nor reintroduced. Instead, it is always been around us.
- Since ancient times, humans have been using natural ways to stay healthy. Ancient people of India used natural ways such as waking up early, going for a walk, drinking copper water on an empty stomach (Ushapana), Breathing exercises (Pranayama), Surya Namaskar, and fasting to stay healthy and live well. These practices were part of their daily habit and culture. Allopathic doctors recommend these practices to their patients today to maintain good health.
Benefits of Naturopathy Treatment
- Instead of using the word Naturopathy, we can use Natural Life. Because when people hear Naturopathy, they think it’s only about treating illness using Natural Methods. But when we use the term Natural Life is a way of living that shows us a complete approach with which we can live life healthy.
- So Naturopathy teaches us to live life according to nature’s rules. If we follow these we become healthy and feel good.
- Our body has a superhero known as “White Blood Cells (WBC)” which works 24/7 to fight Germs, and Infections and repair damage. It is always working to keep us healthy. When you get sick, Allopathic doctors give you medicine to get better. Allopathic medicines provide extra help to the WBC to work better. Instead of Allopathic medicines we use Natural Methods in Naturopathy to help our body to feel better.
- According to Naturopathy,
- Nature has given our body a strong healing power, this healing power never fails when we become Ill.
- All the things created by nature are linked to each other and depend on each other to work properly. example
- Oxygen produced by plants helps humans and animals to breathe. Carbon dioxide released by humans and animals during respiration helps plants to grow. Therefore to survive they depend on each other
- If we pollute water or air, it will not only affect plants and animals but also us and the whole planet. Therefore it shows how everything is linked to each other.
- By respecting Nature and living according to its rules, we will stay healthy and happy. We can also teach others to follow Nature’s rules so that they can live peacefully and happily.
- But today humans do not respect nature. They ignored our old Indian traditions and adopted a Western lifestyle which made them ill. We have also polluted our environment and made it dirty. If do not carefully decide how to stay healthy from now, we will face serious health problems.
- Neglecting holistic health will lead to various health problems. As we become sick whole world will become sick and dirty. As a result, Future generations will receive a world that has sick people and a dirty environment.
- Naturopathy refers to a lifestyle or a set of practices that helps us to stay healthy all the time; we can take care of our health on our own using it without needing a doctor. It teaches us to be our own health coach instead of relying on others.
In Summary
- According to Naturopathy, all disease is born from a single Main cause, and tries to fix that single main cause.
- It helps to keep our body, mind, emotions, and spirit happy and healthy.
- By focusing on Holistic Health, we can stay well and avoid getting sick.
- Naturopathy follows the proverb “Prevention is better than Cure” which means to prevent ourselves from disease by following Nature’s rules rather than focusing on treatment after falling ill.
- Through Naturopathy treatment one can become free from all forms of physical and mental disease. Therefore we must include Naturopathy in our daily lives and by doing this we can live truly healthy.