Nature cure is a system of healing without the aid of medications. Nature cure is both curative and preventive.

If one looks around us we find there are basically five elements present in nature. They are:

      1.  Space Element ? Akash Tattva

      2.  Air Element ? Vayu Tattva

      3.  Fire Element ? Agni Tattva

      4.  Water Element ? Jal Tattva

      5.  Solid Element ? Bhumi Tattva

The food we eat comes from animal and/or plant source. The basis of food for plants is minerals and water from earth, sunlight and air from the atmosphere. Of course if there was no space it would not have been possible for the plant or animal to grow and/or reproduce. Thus we all depend on the basic five elements listed above for our survival. Accordingly these five elements form basis for our cure.

According to Naturopaths, the root cause of any disease is accumulation of waste or morbid matter in the system. The five elements are used in various methods to remove or cleanse morbid matter from the system. Some of the methods are listed here under the five categories.

FASTING (Akash Tattva)

Fasting is to go without food or eating for a day or few days. During this period stomach and other related organs get a rest and the body is rejuvenated because of the absence of load of work!

Fasting is of two types:

1.      Fasting with eliminative diet

2.      Fasting with soothing diet

Methodology of Fasting with Eliminative Diet:

1.      Fix up your mind that you will fast for a complete day in the beginning (slowly once you get used, you can fast continuously for few days)

2.      Begin the day by drinking 2 or 3 glasses of lukewarm water mixed with spoonful of lemon juice and a pinch of salt (can be avoided if not required)

3.      Further cleanse your intestines/bowels by applying enema (procedure follows in next section)

4.      Throughout the day keeping sipping warm water mixed with lemon juice whenever you feel hungry or weak or tired

5.      To alternate with lemon juice one can have fresh fruit juice

6.      One can notice some symptoms like tastelessness, bad odor of the mouth, slight pain in the stomach, giddiness, exhaustion etc. These occur because of not having the practice of fasting, but they will disappear after a day of fasting and one will experience the joy of lightness or lightheadedness

7.      Beginners can fast for 2or 3 days and break the fast on the morning by eating fresh fruits and soups for a day and continue with their regular diet the following day

8.      One can fast once a day per week or three days in a month

Methodology of Fasting with Soothing Diet:

1.      Fix up your mind that you will fast for a complete day in the beginning (slowly once you get used, you can fast continuously for few days)

2.      Begin the day by drinking 2 or 3 glasses of luke warm water mixed with spoonful of lemon juice and a pinch of salt (can be avoided if not required)

3.      Further cleanse your intestines/bowels by applying enema (procedure follows in next section)

4.      Throughout the day keeping sipping warm water mixed with lemon juice whenever you feel hungry or weak or tired

5.      To alternate with lemon juice one can have fresh fruit juice

6.      One can notice some symptoms like tastelessness, bad odor of the mouth, slight pain in the stomach, giddiness, exhaustion etc. These occur because of not having the practice of fasting, but they will disappear after a day of fasting and one will experience the joy of lightness or lightheadedness

7.      The next day one can start with warm water with lemon juice and when one is hungry one can have boiled vegetables, salads, fresh ripe fruits, fruit juices, yogurt with fat removed. The food should be masticated well so no gas is formed because of raw food

8.      One can continue to fast with soothing diet for 21 (three weeks) to 45 days. This will be very beneficial for patients suffering from chronic ailments, obese and arthritic

HYDROTHERAPY (Jal Tattva)

Water constitutes 90% of the world?s coverage. If there were no water it would have not been possible for evolution to take place. So also human body cannot survive for long without water. Aptly water is used as one of the main ingredients in nature cure. Water can be used for treatment internally and externally.

Method of internal usage of water:

Kunjal: Be seated in squatting position, drink 1 or 2 liters of water continuously. Put the forefinger and middle finger into the throat and gently irritate the epiglottis. One will feel a vomiting sensation. Vomit out the water and any waste content from the stomach. Repeat this for two or three times, till clear water is vomited out. This workout or kriya is very useful in case of food poisoning.

ShankhaPrakshalan: Be seated in squatting position, drink 2 or 3 liters of water. Practice the following postures Pascimottana Asana, Uddayana Bandha, Danda Asana, and Pavana Mukta Asana. Clear out the bowels. Drink some more water, practice the four postures and pass out the stools. Repeat this process till only water flows out from the bowels. This is an indication that all the waste matter which has been stored for any length of time will be expelled out. The whole process may take nearly one to two hours. Hence fix a day specifically for this cleansing up of intestines and on the previous night eat a very light meal for easier cleansing the next day.

Jal Neti: The meaning of the word Neti is nasal passage. Jal Neti is a process or technique of cleansing the upper part of respiratory system. It helps to cleanse and build up sensitivity of nasal sinuses.

A plastic or metal pot with elongated nozzle (called as Jal Neti pot) for practice of this process is available in the market; either this or one can use any feeding cup.

Water used for cleansing purpose should be boiled and cooled down to room temperature and a half spoonful of salt be added to it.

Sit in squatting position, place the nozzle head into left nostril, and slightly tilt your head to the right side. The warm water will naturally flow from left nostril to the right nostril.

Please keep your mouth open or half fill it with normal water for easy breathing.

After performing this process, one should practice forceful expiration of breath standing at an angle of 60? and slightly bending forward.

More to come....