In the practice on Nature-cure it is equally necessary to keep the body well-nourished. For adequate nourishment the digestive system should be normal. Accordingly we proceed with knowledge of the fundamental elements of the digestive system.
In describing this we have tried to be simple in description, so that the reader may grasp the essentials easily.
While explaining the effect of cold water on blood in restoring its impaired circulation, a brief idea of the circulation system of blood was given earlier. Here, we now give the major function of the blood. The blood carries food to the cells in its circulation.
In other words, blood is the transporter of food from the heart to the cells/tissues of the body. Let us study how blood performs this function, by firstly knowing about its constituents. The constituents of blood are:
Continue reading Natural Cure: Blood -The Agent of Nutrition
From the small intestines, the digested food containing glucose, amino acids and fatty acids, etc, reaches the cells of the body by blood circulation. In cells these products are utilised to produce energy and also used for repair of the tissues themselves.
This becomes possible because of chemical reaction involving their oxidation. The reaction releases adequate energy for the use of living organisms. In other words, the oxidation of glucose and other carbohydrates releases energy and this process works with inhaled oxygen.
1. TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN AND CARBON-DIOXIDE: Blood transports oxygen from the lungs and skin, etc. to the tissues. It then transports carbon-dioxide from the tissues back to the respiratory surfaces. Thus blood helps in respiration.
Continue reading Natural Cure: Functions of Blood in the Body
The methods of treatment in the science of Nature-cure include baths, packs, massage, enema and fasting. In this chapter all these are separately discussed.
In the category of baths, the most familiar of baths, is the HIP-BATH. Baths ennurvate the internal system by revitalising the circulation of blood by its contact with cold water, applied scientifically with the body.
This can well be done completely at home. A person is made to sit on his chair with his clothes on and a blanket covering his whole body except the head, which is covered with a wet towel. A glass of water is served to the person before the bath.
For Steam-bath, the Nature-cure homes have a small wooden cabin to accommodate a chair inside, where to seat the patient and then close it. It has a hole at the top, to keep the head out of it, but covered with a wet towel.
To get the maximum benefit from your ordinary bath of the day, rub the body first with your plain hands. This is called—the DRY MASSAGE. This is as useful as any massage with oils, etc. recommended for specific ailments.
If we ask anybody why bath is taken, the reply will be to cool the body and clean it. But the fact is in one way quite the other one. Animals do not bathe to clean themselves. They rather would like to roll in dust.
Sometimes you do not feel like taking your daily bath in the morning, either feeling cold or fever-like. But bath should not be avoided. You would have experienced that, on the day you go out for work without taking bath, you will not be feeling fresh and in winter, a sort of shivering, because the morning cold bath produces sufficient heat in your body to keep you fresh during the clay.
Continue reading Natural Cure: The Hot and Cold Bath Treatment