Healing Methods The first person ever to feel disease or discomfort in the body probably stopped eating, as do the animals. Therefore, the first method of healing is fasting, or giving rest to the human machinery. That original sick person must have been instinctively led to eliminate certain hard-to-digest foods from his diet and seek easyto- digest roots or herbs. This led to the discovery of different herbs as medicine. The Chinese and Hindus have specialized in this second method of healing. Later, due to migration, change of climate, and difficulty in finding the required herbs on demand, concentrated extracts and medicines began to be made from herbs. Thus, the third method of healing was through herbal medicines.
Curing Autointoxication
One of the main causes of arthritis, rheumatism, and many other diseases is autointoxication, which is due to faulty elimination. Uneliminated, decayed food stays like a paste on the walls of the intestines and is absorbed into the bloodstream. Disease naturally follows. Progressive doctors are endorsing the plan of a fruit juice or water fast one day each week. Another sensible medical recommendation is to evacuate the intestines and flush the bowels completely once or twice a month by a day of drinking only vegetable juices or two or three quarts of water. This general housecleaning is helpful.
Don’t Drink Ice Water
Doctors say that ice cold water lowers the temperature of the
stomach thirty degrees; then the stomach must warm up again to
resume its normal activities. This is shocking and disastrous to the
weak digestive power of an individual.
Avoiding Colds
The man who eats without real physical hunger, but with pseudohunger produced by the sight of food, is skating on the thin ice of digestibility. When he begins to tax his poor digestive power by greedily gulping unmasticated rich food in large quantities and drinking ice water with it, he hardly realizes what he is doing. Lack of hunger, catching cold—these innocent-looking troubles have a great deal to do with the happiness of man. The man newly choked by Mr. Cold bursts into germ-spreading, violent spells of sneezing. The sneezing bombards the fine cells of the mucous membrane, and the whole family of cells in the brain becomes disturbed. Due to the proximity of the brain and mental processes, the man with a cold feels miserable mentally. By neglecting a cold in the head, a man allows it to spread its territory down to the throat. If he continues to neglect a cold, the wicked invader, Mr. Cold, enters the inner chambers of the bronchial tubes and tries to make a permanent settlement in his lungs. Mr. Cold is known to be the “Happiness-Nagger.” He may not be very dangerous on his first visit, but when he begins to visit you quite often, he can nag the happiness out of you.
Curing a Cold
When you catch a cold, fast for two days. During a cold, the extra poisons in your body are being thrown off. If you eat food, you obstruct the poison-eliminating system of Nature with extra food chemicals. If you cannot handle a complete fast, eat apples, pears, or grapes but refrain from eating acid fruits. Do not eat anything at night. Do not drink hot or cold water. Drink only two glasses of warm water daily. I believe that drinking too much water during a cold is not good because the extra water comes out constantly through the mucous membrane, making the nose run and causing irritation and accumulation of pus there. Fasting during a cold is very good for it helps Nature effect her own cure without interruption. At the beginning of a cold, it is very good to use a laxative suitable to your system. A sunbath, with the rays of the sun falling directly on the epidermis of the body, has been known to cure a cold in one day. Protect sensitive skin by applying olive oil, or something similar, before taking a sunbath. A five- or ten-minute daily increase in sun bathing is a help for longer sun exposure. The best time for sunbaths is between 11 am and 3 pm.
Eliminating Catarrh
Catarrh is caused mostly from overeating at night and from neglecting colds. By following these rules conscientiously, you will begin to destroy the roots of this disease. If you are suffering from catarrh, make your evening meal very light: a fruit meal with ground nuts, or some cooked vegetables, perhaps boiled peas or spinach, just to satisfy the demands of your acquired habit. Refrain from eating meat as much as possible. Never eat fish, meat, or eggs at night. Drink milk in the afternoon. Eat your heaviest meal at noon. Eat very little bread, perhaps a small piece of toasted whole wheat bread at noon. Do not drink water or eat right before going to bed. Sleep well covered, with windows opened wide both summer and winter. Take long walks in the morning, and especially at night before going to bed. Inhale and exhale deeply when walking.
Attributes: Paramhansa Yogananda
Use historical healing methods to restore your vitality. See how simple shifts in diet and focus support your health.
Many approaches to well-being focus on modern solutions, but looking back at historical healing methods offers timeless wisdom. This discussion covers how fasting and deliberate dietary changes serve as a form of general house cleaning for the body. By removing the obstacles created by poor food choices, you create space for the body to naturally repair itself.
Your internal state also plays a crucial role in physical recovery. We examine how mental processes influence your overall health, showing that the mind is often the first place where healing begins. Incorporating natural remedies alongside these simple lifestyle adjustments allows you to align your physical and mental well-being more effectively.