Natural Healing Explained
By Larry Cook
Why do we get sick?
Sickness is usually caused by emotional imbalance and overload
of toxins and pathogens. It is often symptom of a weakened immune
system that can no longer fight at 100% efficiency.
What is natural healing?
Our body knows how to heal itself. The first step is to detoxify:
to help our body remove toxins and pathogens so they no longer
cause problems. The second step is to help our body gain all the
minerals, vitamins and other natural supplements to build, repair
and stimulate the immune system back to full efficiency. The third
step is to stop taking in foods and products which contain toxins
and chemicals, like pesticides, preservatives, synthetic flavorings,
chlorine, etc. that aren't designed by nature for our bodies.
What are pharmaceutical drugs?
Pharmaceutical drugs often contain toxic chemicals which work
by destroying problem-causing pathogens or by artificially taking
over systems in the body instead of helping the body regain balance
and work on its own again. In both cases, they can induce side
effects by poisoning the body because they are chemically based.
What are natural healing remedies?
Natural healing remedies come from the plant, mineral and
animal kingdoms, and work in harmony with the body to stimulate
healing, to nourish and build cells, and to improve the flow of
energy (sometimes called "chi") which brings balance
and healing. They generally have no side effects.
What is prevention in natural medicine?
Prevention promotes health habits that minimize the amount
of toxins we put into our bodies and maximize our immune system
through proper diet, nutrient supplementation and detoxification.
What is education in natural medicine?
Education is learning the basics of how our bodies work so
that we can take charge of our own health. Understanding how to
detoxify, how to eat a proper diet and what supplements to take
gives us the best opportunity for vibrant health. Education and
prevention go hand in hand and put our health in our own hands.
What are "Holistic Practitioners?"
Holistic practitioners include naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists,
herbalists, massage therapists, colon hydrotherapists, nutritionists
and more. They promote the best course of action, non-toxic remedies
and natural techniques to fully heal most conditions. Some states
license holistic practitioners and they have access to the same
diagnostic testing processes as conventional medical doctors.
What is the difference between conventional allopathic medicine
and natural healing medicine?
Conventional medicine usually attacks the symptom of a problem
whereas natural medicine works to identify the cause and treat
it. For example, a conventional approach to an ear infection may
be to take antibiotics to kill the infection, whereas a natural
approach might be to give an anti-microbial herb to kill the bacteria
in the infection, as well as to determine the cause of the infection
(like a food allergy or a lack of nutrients), and prescribe a
course of action to remedy the cause and prevent further ear infections.
What are Homeopathic Remedies?
Homeopathic remedies use a microdose of plant, mineral or
animal substances to stimulate a person's natural healing defenses,
similarly to a vaccin. Homeopathy means "to treat with something
that produces an effect similar to the suffering." This principle
is called "The Law of Similars" or "like cures
like". Homeopathic remedies can be used to safely and effectively
treat most conditions. Manufacturers often provide a guide as
to which remedy will work best with which problem. For serious
problems, a consultation with a homeopathic practitioner is recommended.
What are Flower Remedies?
Flower remedies are carefully prepared dilute essences of
plants and flowers. They are completely safe and non-toxic. Dr.
Edward Bach (1897-1936) developed the first system of flower remedies,
called the Bach Flower Remedies. He believed that physical problems
are manifestations of emotional problems, and that if the emotional
problems could be healed, the physical problems would also be
healed. Bach discovered that certain flowers and plants stimulate
the body's natural healing systems and help to stabilize the emotions.
To find a flower essence for your needs, look through the guides
provided by various manufacturers of flower essences.
What is Aromatherapy?
Ever smell a flower and feel better? You just experienced
Aromatherapy! "Aroma" means smell or fragrance and "Therapy"
means treatment. Aromatherapy is a safe and effective natural
remedy that helps to stimulate emotional balance.
Unlike our other senses, our olfactory nerves are connected directly
to our brain and smell registers in the hypothalamus gland, which
regulates many important activities, like the endocrine system
which controls hormones affecting growth and heart rate, breathing,
digestion and body temperature. Aromatherapy uses pure essential
oils (non-synthetic oils), extracted from many parts of a plant
(flower, leaf, resin, bark, root, seed, berry, etc.) to relax,
balance and rejuvenate body, mind and spirit. The essential oil
is often "diffused" into the air, or placed directly
onto the body in a diluted base of oil or water.
What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which means "The Science
of Life." It is a natural system of health from India that
is at least 5,000 years old and uses diet, herbs, cleansing and
purification practices as well as yoga, astrology and gemstones.
Ayurveda was created by Rishis, masters of meditation and observation
who developed a remarkable system of healing based on the five
basic elements of the universe--ether, air, fire, water and earth--and
their corresponding constitutional physical body types--Vata,
Pitta, and Kapha--known as the doshas. Knowing your type gives
you useful information on what to eat, how to exercise, what to
wear, how to cleanse and purify your body & how to prevent
disease.
What are Herbal Remedies?
Herbs have been used for thousands of years around the world
to treat virtually every medical condition.
Some herbs are considered tonics, and nourish specific cells, tissues, organs, and the whole individual. Tonics are often used for long periods of time. They are very gentle and slow stimulants, and provide nutrients that the body can use, such as vitamins, minerals and plant pigments like such as anthocyanins or flavonoids.
Other herbs are called specifics because they have a specific job for a limited time (up to three 10-day cycles is common). They "fine-tune" biochemical processes, move the flow of energy or Chi, and regulate energy in the bioenergetic channels to help remove stagnancy and redistribute excess energy. They generally work by stimulating a process-like echinacea, which stimulates immune cell function and heights resistance to infections.
Some herbs are called heroics (forcing remedies). They blast through energy blocks and dramatically move or inhibit energy. Because these herbs are extremely potent, they should only be used by practitioners who are very familiar with them.
Other herbs are known as protective and cleansing herbs because they remove wastes and pollutants from tissues and organs, and only minimally affect body processes. Plant pigments like "bio-flavonoids", for example, simply accumulate in the tissues near the skin to help reduce sun damage.
A number of reference guides are available to help you determine which herbs will work best for on-going health maintenance or to treat a specific condition.