Golden rules of Naturopathy

1.     (i). Akash  (ii). Air  (iii) Sun   (iv). Water (v). Earth or mud Therapy  (vi). Diet or Ahar (vii).  Exercise  (viii). Relaxation (ix).   Cleanliness (X). Pran Shakti, Positive Thinking

(i)   Akash. (Jeevem Sharadhan Shatam)

          (a).    Take food only when hungry.

          (b).    Take only light food and leave taking food when still feeling slight

hunger.

        (c).     Do not take breakfast, may take juice, fruits etc.

                   Example of “Mahatma Gandhi”.

        (d).    Fasting

(ii)  Air    -        Air Bath

                   Proper breathing. Abdominal breathing

               Breathing Capacity

               Walking in fresh air.

               Ventilated room.

               Breathing Exercises.

(iii)   Sun   -        Sun Bath

Vitamin ‘D’ is in Sunrays.

Morning rising before Sun-rise

No late night Meal.

Sun is the life on Planet & helps digestion. Source of Prana for earth.

           (iv)    Water also known as hydrotherapy.

                    The aim of hydrotherapy is

a) Accelerating the process of healing

b) Providing relief to the patient from the painful symptoms of the disorder.

The common uses of water are

(1) Drinking and (2) Bathing.

 Everyone must drink sufficient water. For best results drinking in empty stomach & half an hour before meal is very helpful. Drink preferably after two hours of meal.

2)  Bathing – Bathing removes dirt aphorizing to the body, skin is cleaned. The friction caused on the body during bath results in freshness. It is mistake to think that expensive perfumed soap is helpful. Natural means are far better.

 Hydrotherapeutic Remedial Procedures. 

I.       Enema

II.      Hip Bath

III.     Full sheet Pack

IV.     Steam Bath

V.      Hot Foot Bath

VI.     Spinal Bath

VII.    Wet or Dry fomentation with hot water

VIII.   Jalaneti

IX.     Irrigation of the stomach – (vomiting as a means of cleaning the stomach)

X.      Hot & cold fomentation.

 5.       Earth  

 This is very important for sustaining life on planet. This is source for all cereals, vegetables, fruits, plants. In India we call mother earth, which gives importance of the earth.      

Mud packs also know as clay therapy, given the following benefits.

(1)          Cooling of the affected part.

(2)          Absorption of toxins.

(3)          Reduction of swelling

(4)          Relaxation of tension.

(5)          Relief from Pain.

6.       Diet

The attitude of allopathy is casual towards diet Ayurveda has gone a little deeper to deal with inter-relationship of diet and health. Diet is very important in Naturopathy.

Food serves two purposes.

(1) Supply all essential nutrients to the body, and

(2) Maintain the acid-alkali balance in blood.      

The body requirements of essential nutrients.

The five essential are Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Vitamins & Minerals

Proteins

          Proteins are essential for the growth, maintenance and regeneration of the body. The main sources are pulses, milk, eggs, vegetables, etc. The proteins contain different proportion of the various amino acids Dr. Chittenden states.

          Ingestion of excessive amounts of proteins results in the formation of uric acid, which is harmful to health. Many of the diseases troubling mankind have their roots in the excessive intake of proteins.

           Dr. Squire and Dr. Newberg thoroughly investigated the effect of protein rich foods on the kidneys. They found excessive use is harmful.

Carbohydrates  

Carbohydrates provide heat and energy to the body, cereals, tubers, roots, pulses, milk etc are the main source of carbohydrates. 

Processed carbohydrates are not desirable. We cause lot of damage to our health by canned and bottled fruits, fruit juices, tomato ketchup, jams, jellies, instant sweets cakes, chocolates, ice creams, bread, biscuits, peppermint sweets and other similar processed carbohydrates.

          Fats

        Fats also supply heat and energy to the body.  

       These are two types of fats.

Saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats are more harmful. We should minimize the intake of saturated fats. Better to take less amount of unsaturated fats.

       Vitamins and Minerals 

The Body needs only minute quantities of these substances but they are of great importance. Vitamins are essential for the proper digestion and absorption of proteins, Carbohydrates and fats and the development of the ability of the body to protect itself against diseases. Various minerals are needed for the formation and functioning of the cells. These vital substances are necessary for the maintenance of health and more in case of sickness. During illness they get quickly depleted.   

Acid and Alkali Balance in Blood 

The Acid to Alkali ratio in our blood should be 20:80. The body tries to maintain this ratio. This is essential for our health.  

Some of our foods produce Alkaline residues after undergoing the full cycle of digestion whereas some others foods produce acidic residues. We may call such food Alkali genic and Acid- genic.   

          (a).    Alkali genic foods are

Fruits :

Figs (Fresh), Raisins, Grapes, Sugarcane, tomatoes, Lemons, oranges, Plums, Dates, Peaches, Apricots, Bananas, Pomegranates, Coconuts, Pineapples, Pears, Watermelons, Apples.

Vegetables, Tubers and Roots :

Spinach, Suva, Plants, Leafy Salad Plants, Cucumbers, Beetroots, Turnips, Sweet Potatoes, Radishes, Potatoes, Peas (Fresh), cabbage, Cauliflower, Onions, Pumpkin.

Milk & Milk Products

Skimmed Milk

Cream, Human Milk, Cow’s milk, Buttermilk, Goat’s milk.

(b).    Acid-genic foods

          Cereals

Rice (Polished), Rice (manually de-husked), Cake, Bread, Barley, White Flour (wheat), Maize, Wheat.

Pulses & Legumes

All pulses and legumes are highly acid-genic.

Nuts

Peanuts, Walnuts, almonds

Food of animal origin (Excluding milk)

Yolk of Egg, white of Egg, Eggs, Beef, Chicken, Goat’s flesh, Fish, Pork.

Milk Products

Cheese and Butter

It is quite possible to maintain a judicious balance between acid-genic and alkali genic food. We must remember food is necessity for the body, not for the tongue. Our body is subjected to constant wear and tear. Cells die, and are replaced by new ones. This process of regeneration requires vitamins, mineral salts and enzymes. Vitamins and enzymes are also needed for the digestion and assimilation of proteins, fats, carbohydrates etc. These enzymes and some of the vitamins are destroyed by heat. Thus excessive cooking destroys the food quality. We must remember no other animal subsists on cooked food except domesticated animals. Animals prefer raw uncooked food.

          Cooking not only destroys vitamins and enzymes in foods but also reduces its nutritive value. Cooking makes carbohydrates difficult to digest as a result. They are absorbed completely in the intestines.

It is established that

• Cooked foods require five to six hours for complete digestion.

• Raw foods need three to four for digestion.

• Fruit and vegetable juices take only 20-30 minutes.

• Germination of grain and pulses results in vast increase in their nutritive values.

• In uncooked germinated seeds there is increase of 600 percent in the amount of vitamins etc.

 Dr. George J.Druce of Chicago U.S.A. states