(Elmer Lee, M.D.)

Nature Cure is a misnomer in the sense that it means more than it connotes. In the popular mind, it is bits and pieces of physiotherapy combined with the voodoo of fasting and faith cure thrown in for good measure. It is nothing of the sort.

Nature Cure actually is a way of life; but even when restricted to its meaning of ‘a science of healing’, it is to be understood as a positive approach to health, in which the rules of health and hygiene are of the greatest importance to get cured - and, stay cured. It is the only system that believes fully in the vis medicatrix naturae that considers the vital power to be the only curative power. Of course, all the ‘pathies’ do believe in the vital power, but not to be extent that Nature Cure does. No surgeon would cut open the human body if he were not sure that Nature would finally heal the cut that he has made. But Nature Cure believes that vital power is the only curative power, and that it can be assisted in its healing work by removing obstacles in its path. If food is the obstacle, fasting is called for. If suppressive drugs are in the way, then they have to be discontinued. If negative emotions are in the way, they have to be checked. In short, all the conditions which contribute to disease, have to be altered so that a state of health is gradually achieved.

The therapeutic modilities often employed in Nature Cure, include Kinesiotherapy or remedial exercises, Massage, Osteopathy, Hydrother- apy, Heliotherapy, Actinotherapy, Psychotherapy, besides strict diets and complete fasts where absolutely necessary. Fasting comes in because a Naturopath holds that by elimination of faecal matter from the system can best be speeded up by more or less completely suspending the digestive processes. Fasting is physiological rest, so to say; and it should never be confused or equated with starvation.

PROPER STUDY OF MANKIND IS MAN :
We should not lose sight of the fact that despite all the miraculous advances of modern medicine (to quote an authority) : "it is much more important to know what sort of patient has the disease rather than what sort of disease the patient has". The study of the patient is more important than the study of his disease. And this is true not only of the better-known psychosomatic disorders, but of all conditions from the common cold to fell disease cancer. Nature Cure takes into account the whole personality of the sufferer; its approach is never framentary. For, the human being is not only the human body - his temporary tabernacle - but also the human mind and the spirit that dwells within the body.

Dr. Kepler of the Mayo Clinic, USA, has suggested as a remedy for the ills of the modern times the philosophy that our life should be equally influenced by love, work, worship and play. This is not to say that we devote equal time to these four factors; that is neither feasible nor desirable. The necessary thing is that life should be equally influenced by these four essentials.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH :
A word about spiritual health. Since health is not just absence of disease, but a state of harmony among all the facets of our being, we must learn something about that plane of our being - our triumvirate being - which is variously named the spirit, the soul or the true self. In reality, this true self of ours is the one most neglected by us, though success in fathoming it is the only way to lasting peace in these times of strife, stress and strain. Just as at the bottom of an ocean there is always total calm, though violent storms may be raging on the surface, so also this centre within us is always tranquil, however much the body or mind be in agony or turmoil. A sage has compared this centre to a room within us, which, he suggests, we should make a practice of entering, from time to time.

Dr. Carl G.Jung, the great psychologist, in his last days averred that almost all of us can hope to resolve our conflicts permanently in only one way, i.e. by having a religious outlook on life. And he went on to explain that by religious outlook he did not mean outlook of any particular religion, but the quintessence of all religious systems which give a true perspective of life to the seeker of truth.

WHY IS NATURE CURE NOT POPULAR :
In conclusion, it will be noted that Nature Cure approach, being based on the trinity of our being is an integral one; it does not believe in tinkering with symptoms to cure disease; rather it deals with root causes of disease; it does not provide any short-cut to health, for there is none; it is a logical, sane and scientific approach. If it be asked why Nature Cure is not popular if it is so wonderful, the answer is that it demands much from the sufferer by way of sacrifice : sacrifice of time, of misconceptions about health, of all types of false notions, of harmful habits, etc. Nature Cure wants him to earn health by self-effort; it asks him to exercise self-restraint and practise self-denial; it prohibits the baneful indulgences - such as smoking or drinking - which give temporary pleasure at the cost of lasting health and happiness.

Ignorance in health matters is abysmal; and it is a greater task to enlighten the educated than the uneducated. Prejudices are stronger in the educated. Herbert Spencer said : "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. The principle is condemnation before investigation."

Nature Cure has met with such condemnation in the past; is it too much to expect that it will not meet with the same fate in future ? Reprinted from the Journal of the Indian Medical Association, July 1969.