NATIONAL SANSKRIT UNIVERSITY: TIRUPATI

Principles of Naturopathy
Dr.R.Lakshminarayana
1. Introduction to Naturopathy – Definition – history – aims & objectives
(i) Definition
Nature cure is a method of treatment which aims at removing the root
cause of disease with the help of the natural elements, such as air, earth, water
and heat (fire). It is not only a system of healing, but also a way of life.
(ii) History
The philosophy and practice of Naturopathy is very old. Its origin can be
traced in the civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome. The Vedas, Epics and
Puranas contain several descriptions to the therapeutic values of the air, earth,
water and sun. For example, several bathing tubs and bath-parlors are found in
the excavations at Harappa and Mohanjo-Daro sites.
. The first experiment was successfully done with water (hydrotherapy) in
Germany and, therefore, it is regarded as the birth place for modern
Naturopathy. Naturopathy is a drugless therapy. History considers Dr. Benedict
Lust, as the father of Modern Naturopathy.
Aims and objectives
Nature cure believes that the man is born healthy and strong. He lives in
accordance with the laws of nature. As long as he follows them, he leads a
healthy and happy life. Even if there are some congenital afflictions, the person
can overcome them by the use of the natural agents of healing such as fresh air,
sunshine, a proper diet, exercise, relaxation, constructive thinking and the right
mental attitude.
Nature cure believes that disease is an abnormal condition of the body by
the violation of the natural laws. Every such violation manifests in the body in
the form of low immunity, irregular flow of blood, and accumulation of
biological wastes and poisons. When they accumulate in vital organs such as
bowels, kidneys, skin and lungs, they fail to work properly. This leads to
functional disorder and ends in dis-ease. The accumulated toxins and wastes can
be eliminated by proper use of natural elements of water, air, sun light and diet.
According to Nature cure, drugs can only offer symptomatic relief, but never
help to remove the harmful substances. It stimulates and strengthens the
internal immunity system. Thus the aim and objective of Naturopathy is to
remove the cause of the ailment from the body by using Natural forces.
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2. Basis and Principles of Naturopathy:
The philosophy and practice of nature cure is based on the seven basic
principles.
a. The first basic principle of nature cure is that the cause of all
disease is accumulation of wastes in the body. The body fails to eliminate them
it results in disease. These waste materials are removed from the system
through the organs of elimination. Naturopathy helps the organs for effective
removal of wastes products. All methods of this system of medicine are directed
to this end.
b. The second basic principle of nature cure is that all acute diseases
such as fevers, colds, inflammations, digestive disorders and skin diseases are
the result of self-initiated efforts of the body. All chronic diseases such as heart
disease, diabetes, rheumatism, asthma, kidney disorders, are the result of
continued suppression of the acute diseases through harmful methods such as
drugs and vaccines.
c. The third principle of nature cure is that the body contains an
elaborate healing mechanism to bring about a return to normal condition of
health. In other words, the power to cure disease lies within the body itself and
not in the hands of the doctor. Right application of natural elements by the
healer helps to repair the damage and rejuvenate the original health of the body.

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 d. The body is produced, sustained and decayed by the diet. Health
largely depends on the quality of food and certainly not on the quantity. Most
of the ancient texts on health, recommend balanced food to maintain balance
between the body and the mind. Naturopathy also recommends balanced
(yukta) diet to maintain health and cure diseases. It has developed several
methods of fasting to eliminate biological toxins from the body. Fasting has a
strong influence on the body and mind. This forms the fourth principle of
Nature Cure.
e. Naturopathy recommends proper physical exercise. The body must
be given positive stretching without causing undue strain and stress on the
muscular system. This relaxes the muscles, restores proper blood circulation
and helps effective of wastes and poisons in the body.
f. Another important principle of Nature Cure is right behaviour.
Like Yoga, it also recommends right talk, right means of earning, rightful mind
etc., which are helpful to keep the mind calm and contended.
g. Nature Cure believes in the principle of proper work and
relaxation. There must be balance between activity and rest. Continued work
results in accumulation of biological wastes and poisons in the joints. This
leads to infection and inflammation of joints. Further it weakens the immunity
system leading to nervous debility, insomnia, head aches, indigestion and other
metabolic disorders. Therefore, Naturopathy strongly believes in the principle
of right activity and proper relaxation.

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3. Role, importance and regulation of Diet (aahara) in Naturopathy:
The nature cure system aims at the readjustment of the human system
from abnormal to normal conditions and functions and adopts methods of cure.
Such methods remove the accumulation of toxic matter and poisons from the
vital organs of the body. They also stimulate the organs of elimination and
purification to better functioning.
Nature Cure recommends non acidic diet to maintain health. It suggests
regulated diet to eliminate accumulated toxins and restore functional balance in
the body. It strongly believes that in take of proteins, starches, fats, which are
free from acids, keep the digestive system away from infections. One of the
effective methods of Nature cure is fasting. In the treatment of sever disease, a
full day fasting is recommended. Some times, the disease is treated by taking
only liquids (fruit juices) for a few days. According to Nature cure, one should
not start taking full whole some food immediately after observing fasting for a
long period. One should end the fasting by taking only liquid, especially fruit
juice. After one day of liquid diet, it is advised to take first fruits followed by
light whole some meal.
In the treatment of simple fatigue, fever, head ache, anxiety, Naturopathy
recommends light diet such as fresh fruits, alkaline raw vegetables and sprouted
cereals.
Thus in Nature cure, diet plays important role in preventing and curing
the disease.

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4. Types of Nature Cure Therapies:
(i) Fasting:
 Fasting refers to complete avoid of food for a short (or) long period for a
specific purpose.
 The word is derived from the old English, ‘feaston’ which means to fast.
 Fasting is the nature’s effective and least expensive method of treating
diseases.
 The Mohammedans, the Buddhists, the Hindu and many others have their
periods of strict fasting.
 Many modern physicians have successfully employed this system of
healing in the treatment of many diseases.
 The common cause of all diseases is the accumulation of waste and
poisonous matter in the body.
 Digestion and elimination become slow and the functional activity of the
whole system gets damaged.
 By reducing the food intake (or) fasting the organs of elimination such as
the bowels, kidneys, skin and lungs are given opportunity to expel the
overload of accumulated wastes from the system.
 Thus fasting is the process of purification and an effective method of
cure.
Duration
The duration of fast depends upon three things:
(1) The age of the patient
(2) The nature of the disease
(3) The amount and type of drugs previous used
Method
 The most effective method of fasting is juice fasting.
 During the fasting the body burns up and excretes huge amounts of
accumulated waste.

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  We can help this cleansing process by alkaline juice instead of water
while fasting.
 In fasting the total liquid intake should be approximately 6-8 glasses.
Benefits
 During the fasting the building of new and health cells are speeded up by
the amino acids.
 The capacity of the eliminative organs that is lungs, liver, kidneys and the
skin greatly increased.
 As a result the digestion of Food and utilisation of nutrients is greatly
improved after fasting.
The success of the fast depends largely on how it is broken. The main
rules for breaking the fast are do not over eat, eat slowly and chew your food
thoroughly.
(ii) Massage/ spa:
 Massage is an excellent form of passive exercise.
 The word is derived from the Greek word “massier”.
 It involves the scientific manipulation (systematic movements) of the soft
tissues of the body.
 It can be highly stimulating and Rejuvenating
 The great “Hippocrates” the father of medicine, employed massage in
healing the patients as a mode of treatment for many ailments.
 There are five (5) fundamental modes of manipulation in massage:
(1) Effluerage (stroking)
(2) Friction (rubbing)
(3) Petrissage (kneading)
(4) Tapotement (percussion)
(5) Variation (trembling / shaking)
 Cotton seed oil is most commonly used for massing.
 If the patient is averse to oil – talcum powder may be used.

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Duration of massage
General body massage may be done for 40-45 minutes and local body
massage for 10-15 minutes.
Various forms of massage
(a) Massage of the joint,
(b) Massage of the nerves
(c) Abdominal massage
(d) Chest massage
(e) Massage of back
Benefits
 The general massage dealing with all parts of the body.
 It tones up the entire nervous system.
 It quickness the elimination of poisons and waste material from the body.
 Massage removes facial wrinkles.
 It relieves pain and fatigue.
 It also improves blood circulation.
(iii) Curative powers of Earth:
 Earth was used extensively for remedial purposes in ancient times as well
as the middle age.
 In modern times, it again come into prominence as a valuable therapeutic
agent.
 Emanuel felke found that the forces of earth have remarkable effects up
on the human body especially during the night.
 Felke believed that for wounds and skin disease application of clay or
moistured earth was the only true natural bondage.
 Going bore footed all day long is also regarded as a valuable step towards
achieving good health and the happiness.
 Men can draw vital energy and strength out of the earth through their feet.
 Jesus Christ and Chandra Sekhar Saraswathi going bare footed.

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  It is advisable to go entirely barefooted especially on the bare ground.
 The American Indians lay great stress as the earth treatment. They believe
that healing power is strong in the air, leaves, herbs but very powerful in
the earth.
(iv) Mud packs
 The nature cure practitioner are making increasing use of moistered earth
in the treatment of diseases.
 The use of mud packs has been found highly beneficial and effective in
the treatment of chronic inflammation.
Method
 A mud pack is prepared with clay obtained from about 10 cm below the
surface of the earth, to remove impurities such as – compost (or) pebbles.
 The clay is made into smooth paste with warm water. This is allow to
cool and spread on a strip of cloth.
 The size of cloth varies according to requirements.
 The pack is applied for 10-30 minutes.

Benefits
 Mud packs have been found to be a valuable treatment of diseases
relating for general weakness, nervous disorders.
 It can also bring down fever.
 The mud packs is prescribed for swelling, eye and ear troubles, gout
rheumatism, stomach troubles, kidney and liver malfunctins.

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V. Healing power of colours:
 Chromotherapy is a method of treatment of diseases by colour.
 It is the best used as a supportive therapy along with other natural
methods of correct diet, adequate rest and relaxation, exercise, yogic
asanas and so on.
 According to practitioners of chromotherapy the cause of any disease is
the lack of a particular colour in the human system.
 Colour therapy is a technique of restoring imbalance by means of
applying coloured light to the body.
 Pythagoras applied colour light therapeutically and colour halls were used
for healing in ancient Egypt, China and India.
 The pioneer of modern colour therapy was Niels finsen of Denmark.
 A patient is first subjected to an examination to ascertain which colour he
lacks. The deficiency is determined by observing the colour of the eye
balls, nails, urine and excrement.
 According to Dr. Babbit a well known authority on chromotherapy
“sunlight is the principal curative agent in nature’s laboratory”.
 Sunlight plays an important role in the recovery from chronic diseases.
Method of treatment
 There are two methods of treating diseases by colour.
(a) By the application of light through different coloured glasses and
(b) By external (or) internal use of colour-charged water.
 In the first method, sheets of glass 30 cms x 36 cms of the required
clolour are needed. These are placed at the window frames or any other
convenient place in such a way that the sun’s rays can pass through them
and fall directly on the patient’s body.
 The usual duration of the colour treatment is 30 minutes.
 In the second method, coloured bottles are needed. These bottles should
be cleared and filled up to 3/4th level with fresh well water, the bottles

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 should be corked and then placed in bright sunlight for three to four
hours. After this exposure, the water is said to acquire medicinal
properties and this colour charged water can be used both internally and
for external applications.
Vi. The sunbath:
 Sunlight is vital for both animal life and plant life so, sunbathing is a part
of the nature cure process.
 Radiation from the sun:
It’s radiation consists of the
(a) Infra-red &
(b) The ultra violet
 Intra-Red: The intra-red provides heat and is good for people in a chilled
condition. It is a natural pain reliever. It relieves swelling of the tissues
and relaxes them.
 Ultra-violet: The ultraviolet range helps the body vitamins in the skin,
notably vitamin D and assists in the formation and maintenance of our
bones and acts to prevent diseases such as rickets.
 Sunbathing also provides the following
1. Growth and maintenance of teeth
2. Assists growth of hair
3. Improves respiration
4. Assists kidney function
5. Heals wounds on the skin
6. Nourishes pregnant women
 These include tuberculosis, rickets, pneumonia, physical deformity.
 It is best to be bare-bodied while taking a sunbath.
 The first harmful effect is to the eyes.
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