Naturopathic philosophy teaches that the three fundamental causes of disease are ignorance, indifference and lack of Self-control. It is fairly simple to trace almost any health problem back to these three roots. Take adult onset diabetes as an example. There are libraries of studies documenting the benefits of nutrition, exercise and stress reduction on type II diabetes. Taking nutrition as our example, a man ignorant of the effects of the overconsumption of carbohydrates is not likely to limit his consumption of them and this will strongly contribute to his developing diabetes. Also if he understands the importance of limiting his carbohydrate consumption but he is indifferent, not motivated to do it, he will continue to eat poorly and his diabetes will continue. Lastly a person may know what foods to eat and avoid, sincerely desire to eat this way and yet lack the self-control to be able to do it. He must overcome all three of these in order to improve his eating and thereby his diabetes.

      Obviously ignorance, indifference and lack of self control give rise to “sick” action in the ways one moves, thinks and relates exactly as they do in eating. And sick action always manifests as sickness and suffering. Such common sense thinking is both discouraged and undervalued in medical orthodoxy. It leads to heresy, insurgency and freedom.

      Ignorance, indifference and lack of Self-control cannot be healed by medicines. Medicines can treat the symptoms that manifest in the bodymind, but unless we uproot the invisible, spiritual roots, they will grow back and reproduce sickness in another form. Only wisdom dispels ignorance. Passion (love) dispels indifference. And wise, loving behavior is self-control. Wisdom, love and self-control are the universal weapons of healing. They are the essential qualities of our nature, of who we are. We ARE wise loving action yearning to happen.

      Naturopathic philosophy brings our health problems into our immediate sphere of influence. It directs us to understand our illnesses by understanding our own selves and to heal our illnesses by becoming the people we long to be. It gives deep meaning and purpose to our suffering which has heretofore been confusing, mysterious, and largely unintelligible to us. Sickness is no longer viewed as something evil and the result of malevolent forces which can only be defeated by employing self-destructive practices. Naturopathic philosophy clearly explains illness as being caused by deficiencies of our most noble and human qualities. Sickness is a call to understand ourselves and become kinder to ourselves and others in the most practical of ways.

      In the last 25 years nutrition has become widely recognized as one of the most powerful influences on Health and disease. Yet nutrition is no more powerful than any other of our behaviors. Movement, thought, and communication are equally powerful, essential and irreplaceable. Bringing control to one behavior strengthens control of our other behaviors just the same as healing one sick organ improves the health of all other organs.

      A practical application of this is if you are struggling with your eating back off a little and invest some of your good effort into exercise or your relationship. More immediately, if you are struggling with your finances, Health or relationship you can strengthen these areas in this very moment by focusing on improving your posture and breath as you read this. Do not dismiss the power of this. In every moment there is an opportunity to do whatever you are doing with care and intelligence. As you actually do this you will find that the power to strengthen, nourish, and beautify (i.e. to heal) is always available to you, precisely because it IS you.

      We can become so narrowly focused on our “disease” that we actually believe that our healing depends entirely on being able to alter something as miniscule and far removed from our experience as electron transport chains in our mitochondria. This can make us feel pretty powerless and confused. However the truth is that all things are connected. No behavior is unimportant. Healing your behavior heals your physiology and psyche. And kindness and intelligence are what heal ignorant, indifferent behavior. Therefore use every opportunity act wisely and kindly. Sit up, breathe, smile inwardly and feel thankful for the privilege of learning the eternal laws of healing.

      The whole universe acts to correct every action that isn’t kind and intelligent. You can observe this healing reaction in yourself. How do you respond to being treated unkindly or having critically important tasks performed incorrectly? Such behaviors evoke in us a natural reaction to correct them. Your body works identically. “Dis-ease” evokes our natural response to understand and correct the causes. Unfortunately these natural healing responses have been suppressed by our culture. We have been trained to discount our own intelligence and willingness to work for what we want. Trained to believe we are powerless and dependent upon others. Beginning with these false premises assures our failure.

      The great Naturopathic Physician, Buddha Shakyamuni taught that to master the tyrannically selfish aspects of our nature is supremely difficult. Nothing is harder than taking back the power we have given to our habit-demons; no adversary is more frightening than our own flagrant stupidity and cruelty. Self-mastery is the supreme human challenge. You and you alone can heal your own ignorance, indifference and lack of self-control. You have no hope of Health without Self-control. To control illness, control yourself. To control yourself, love and understand yourself.

      It does not make much difference what your diagnosis is or what method of medicine you choose. Simultaneously begin a program to regain control of your most ordinary actions. By controlling your actions through self-understanding and compassion, you return control to your organs, nervous system, immune system and hormone levels. Your body, mind and relationship radiate aliveness born from the source of healing… You.