What is natural health?
We hear a lot about ‘natural’ health these days, but what is it exactly?
Before medicine became the advanced modality it is today, people used remedies for illness that had been passed own over generations. Things like herbs, cleansing routines and bodywork were used to treat the body; not just to stop symptoms, but also to keep the body healthy. Illness was seen differently: as a sign the body needed rest and attention, so often the remedy would help to support and purge the system to return stability and strength. For example, the natural way to treat a cold is to rest and fast on fruit juice and water for a couple of days. This enables the body to use its strength to fight the infection. The old saying: ‘feed a cold and starve a fever’ should read: ‘feed a cold to starve a fever later’. Herbs and foods to encourage the body to get rid of cold symptoms like mucous are also taken: e.g. ginger, garlic and onions.
So natural health works with the body without suppressing symptoms. Another vital component of natural health is food and nutrition. Everything the body needs nutritionally should be present in the diet, preferably from food although supplements can be a necessary and valuable addition. Theoretically, if the body has all it needs, and nothing it doesn’t, the chance of getting sick is greatly reduced.
We've dealt with the physical aspects of natural health. The other aspect is often missed but it's probably the most crucial: the mental aspect. You can tell if a person is happy by how they hold themselves and how they talk; the seemingly endless energy they have. A sad person looks the opposite: drooping shoulders, quiet, tired and uncommunicative. If you saw these two people together, who would you say is healthier, stronger? Long-term negative feelings can affect our health because they suppress the immune system.
In a nutshell, natural health means giving your body attention, supporting it with good nutrition and providing what you need to keep you happy and fulfilled. Taking responsibility for your health can mean fewer trips to the doctor and more time enjoying your life.
Have a look at my health tips to read more on natural health...
Next: Kinesiology and Reiki
