Why Is Natural Hygiene Important For Vegans?
Humans have strayed a long way from "Man's Pristine Way of Life", described by Herbert M. Shelton, a renowned Natural Hygiene Practitioner and writer, in his book of the same title.
The natural diet for humans is basically raw fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Because humans eat and drink substances that do not constitute part of the normal diet for humans, many people are suffering illness and are living in a state of unwellness or in a constant state of "chronic illness". Because vegans deliberately avoid eating products derived from animals, such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, they may avoid suffering from many of the "diseases" that are common in modern society today. Cancer, Circulatory Disease and Diabetes are currently in epidemic proportions in the modern world, where "Medical Practice" largely concentrates on treating symptoms rather than removing the cause of the disease, which is, in many cases, inappropriate food. These three diseases have been linked to the use of Animal Products in the diet.
So Vegans may be healthier simply by avoiding products derived from animals.
It is common in practice to see patients who are on an omnivore diet and are urged to change from an Omnivore diet to a Vegan diet. People in the early stages of becoming vegan suffer from colds, diarrhoea, and other forms of "febrile disease", which is one of the body's ways of eliminating toxic substances. Vegans who eat vegan foods that are processed and cooked can still suffer from illness, because those foods are not natural. So who do they go to for help?
If they go to a Medical Practitioner, or modern Naturopath or Herbalist - "Alternative Medicine practitioners" or "Complimentary Medicine practitioners" - it is most likely that they will be treated with medicines. Most medicines prescribed by a Medical Practitioner are required to be tested on animals. Even many commercially available "Alternative Medicines" are tested on animals, including oriental medicines which contain ingredients derived from animals. A relatively small number of medicines are now tested on humans and others are tested for safety by using scientifically superior non-animal testing methods when those alternatives exist. So, until no medicines are tested on animals, to avoid causing suffering to animals, it is wise for vegans to avoid using any medicine.
Natural Hygiene practice does not use "medicines" of any sort. Natural Hygiene Practitioners use eliminating diets, therapeutic fasting, lifestyle changes and counselling to assist the patient to return to normal health, and a well-balanced Vegan diet to maintain health. And no animal ever needs to suffer!
November 2007.
Go to the International Natural Hygiene Society for more articles on nutrition and fasting.
