Healing without Medicines
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CHAPTER
Healing without
Medicines
This is a reprint from
Where 'There Is No Doctor
(Indian adaptation)
published by the
Voluntary Health Association of India
C-14 Community Centre
Safdarjung Development Area
New Delhi 110016
55
CHAPTER
5
Healing without
Medicines
For most sicknesses no medicines are needed. Our bodies have their own
defenses, or ways to resist and fight disease. In most cases, these natural defenses
are far more important to our health than are medicines.
People will get well from most sicknesses
—including the common cold and 'flu'—
by themselves, without need for medicines.
To help the botfyfight off or overcome a sickness, often all that is needed is to:
eat well
Even in a case of more serious illness, when a medicine may be needed, it is the
body that must overcome the disease; the medicine only helps. Cleanliness, rest,
and nutritious food are still very important.
Much of the art of health care does not—and should not—depend on use of
medications. Even if you live in an area where there are no modern medicines,
there is a great deal you can do to prevent and treat most common sicknesses—if
you learn how.
Many sicknesses can be prevented or treated without medicines.
If people simply learned how to use water correctly, this alone might do more
to prevent and cure illnesses than all the medicines they now use . . . and misuse.
CHAPTER
Healing without
Medicines
For most sicknesses no medicines are needed. Our bodies have their own
defenses, or ways to resist and fight disease. In most cases, these natural defenses
are far more important to our health than are medicines.
People will get well from most sicknesses
—including the common cold and 'flu'—
by themselves, without need for medicines.
To help the body fight off or overcome a sickness, often all that is needed is to:
eat well
Even in a case of more serious illness, when a medicine may be needed, it is the
body that must overcome the disease; the medicine only helps. Cleanliness, rest,
and nutritious food are still very important.
Much of the art of health care does not—and should not—depend on use of
medications. Even if you live in an area where there are no modern medicines,
there is a great deal you can do to prevent and treat most common sicknesses—if
you learn how.
I Many sicknesses can be prevented or treated without medicines.
If people simply learned how to use water correctly-, this alone might do more
to prevent and cure illnesses than all the medicines they now use . . . and misuse.
56
HEALING WITH WATER
Most of us could live without medicines. But no one can live without water. In
fact, over half (57%) of the human body is water. If everyone living in farms and
villages made the best use of water, the amount of sickness and death—especially
of children—could probably be cut in half.
For example, correct use of water is basic both in the prevention and treatment
of diarrhea. In many areas diarrhea is the most common cause of sickness and
death in small children. Contaminated (unclean) water is often part of the cause.
An important part of the prevention
of diarrhea is to boil water used for
drinking or for preparing foods. This
is especially important for babies.
Babies' bottlesand eating utensils
should also be boiled. Washing your.
hands with soap and water after a
bowel movement (shitting) and before
eating or handling foods is just as
important.
P
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The common cause of death in children
with diarrhea is severe dehydration, or loss
of too much water from the body (see p.
181). By giving a child with diarrhea plenty
of water (best with sugar or honey and salt),
dehydration can often be prevented or
corrected (see Rehydration Drink, P-182) ■
Giving lots of liquids to a child with diarrhea is more important than any
medicine. In fact, if enough liquid is given, no medicine is usually needed in the
treatment of diarrhea.
On the next 2 pages are a number of other situations in which it is often more
important to use water correctly than to use medicines.
DRA30
57
Times When the Right Use of Water
May Do More Good than Medicines
PREVENTION
to prevent
see page
use water
1. diarrhea, worms,
gut infections
boil drinking water,
wash hands, etc.
169
2. skin infection?
bathe often-
167
3. wounds becoming
infected; tetanus
wash wounds well 97 102
with soap and water.
4 heat stroke,
heat exhaustion
In summer bathe many times a
day in cold water
drink plenty of water with salt
in it throughout the day 94
TREATMENT
to treat
use water
see page
1. diarrhea,
dehydration
drink plenty of
liquids
182
2. illnesses with fever
drink plenty of
liquids
87
high fever, heat
stroke and heat
exhaustion
soak body with
cool water
88,93,
94
4. minor urinary
infections (common
in women)
drink plenty of
water
279
3
58
to treat
5. cough, asthma,
bronchitis,
pneumonia,
whooping cough
use water
drink a lot of
water and breathe
hot water vapors
(to loosen mucus)
see page
205
6. sores, impetigo,
ringworm of skin
or scalp, cradle
cap, pimples
scrub with soap
and water
242 243,
246., 252,
256
7. infected wounds,
abscesses, boils
hot soaks of
compresses
101, 243
8. stiff, sore muscles
and joints
hot compresses
1167211,
9. itching, burning, or
weeping irritations
of the skin
cold compresses
235
10. minor burns
hold in cold water
109
11. sore throat or
tonsillitis
gargle hot salt water
356
12. acid, lye, dirt, or
irritating substance
in eye
flood eye with cool
water at once
264
13. stuffed uo nose
sniff salt water
201
59
14. constipation, hard
stools
15
piles, anal
fissure
drink lots of water
151
(also enemas are safer
than laxatives, but do
not overuse)
soak buttocks in a tub of 213
warm water with a pinch of
potassium permanganate in it.
vva-tepj hm-th
In each of the above cases (except pneumonia) when water is used correctly,
often medicines are not needed. In this book you will find many suggestions for
ways of healing without need for medicine. Use medicines only when absolutely
necessary.
The book Where There Is No Doctor is available at Rs 29/- plus postage. Multiple copies of reprints
of various chapters are also available.
Please write to:
Publications Officer
Voluntary Health Association of India
C-14 Community Centre
Safdarjung Development Area
New Delhi 11001.6
Rs.
1.00
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