Naturopathy

Recently I was reminded of a well known hydro of days gone by where a long mirror was placed near the main door of the establishment with a caption underneath reading something to this effect:

This is as powerful a message today as it must have been fifty years ago.

In essence, this is naturopathy. It is an intelligent inquiry into ways of changing one's lifestyle for the better. (In fact this often occurs nowadays without people ever having heard of the word naturopathy!) Any small changes made should be done without the forcing of the mind, thought or body. In other words it should be done naturally. This comes about when we see clearly what needs to be changed for then the change will occur automatically. The naturopath may or may not be instrumental in bringing about this change. ÊIf one were to ask how high level health can be achieved, the following three points would be mentioned. Any resolutions for the new year might take into consideration some of the following in this order of importance.

• Exercise
  Without question, walking is the most important health giving factor. A walk of up to an hour a day in normal circumstances and according to one's own mental and physical constitution, time available and of course seasonal fluctuations is time well spent.
  Next to walking, emphasis should be placed on exercises to improve muscle tone and stretch, poise and balance. One system which is often overlooked these days, especially by men, is hatha yoga. It has to be remembered that exercises developing a stretch in muscle are just as important as those for developing power.
• Hydrotherapy
  In naturopathy this term refers to the self application of water both hot and cold by different means for the purpose of improving circulation. Caution and common sense must prevail. In general it can be stated that daily hot water bathing may well be a contributing factor to the increase in back pain seen in recent years. Hot water is essential for the cleansing of the body but prolonged daily applications do have a negative effect on muscle tone. Any hot bath or shower should therefore be followed by a five second burst of cold water of summer temperature to the shoulder and back. I stress no more than five seconds. It should not be done if oneÕs bathroom is cold. Ideally what one should experience immediately afterwards is a glowing sensation all over.
• Nutrition
  Much could be said on this subject alone but one or two points will suffice.
  • Up to a third of the daily diet should consist of fresh, seasonal vegetables, cooked for the evening meal and raw on a salad mid-day. Try to include at least three different cooked vegetables, one of which may be potato, one other being a root vegetable and one being a leaf.
  • Secondly, don't drink always out of habit; drink preferably when thirsty. If approximately half the diet is fruit and vegetable, fluid will be obtained this way thus satisfying any immediate need to quench thirst.

However materialistic society may have become, we owe it to our bodies to remember that we are really creatures of nature and, insofar as our bodies are concerned, we have the duty to care for them responsibly in a natural and uncomplicated way.

Richard Murrell.|
For further information, booklets entitled Water and Nature Cure (£2 plus 30p p&p) and Dry up, not drink up (50p plus 30p p&p) are available from The Coach House, Craigend Park, Cilmerton Road, Edinburgh EH16 5UL.

Brad Cheek 1998