The logic of the healing crisis was the main influence that first persuaded me of the value of the Nature Cure philosophy. It seemed obviously right and strange, that medical opinion should be so different.

The value of the healing crisis has been extolled often and highly by Nature Cure Practitioners, even to the extent of recommending that one should endeavour to have, or at least not try to avoid, them. For example, if you feel a cold coming on, don't do anything like fasting to try and deal with it until it has well and truly started. I'm not so sure of that. Not doing something can be a form of interference, and a cold may be a "clean out" but surely a healthy body will effectively carry out such a process on an on-going basis.

A crisis sounds like an emergency. A healing crisis may be a vigorous response to an emergency or perhaps to an opportunity, with the purpose of bringing about an improvement in the state of health. Healthy vomiting, as a response to poisoning, may be considered a healing crisis? But why, other than in an emergency, would the body choose a short, vigorous, upsetting way, rather than an on-going gentle way? The traditional answer is, I believe, life can be lived at a higher level after a clean out. So, stop everything and do a thorough job.

Other disturbing experiences have been categorised as healing crises. For example headaches and skin symptoms like itch, even without any visible sign of upset or ridding. I presume the purpose of such a crisis is in some way "sorting things out" rather than getting rid of toxins. I do believe that a positive attitude to symptoms is essential. Without it, a fearful reaction can very easily worsen and extend upsets of health.

So, as I see it, an essential feature of living Nature Cure is developing a different, more positive perception of every aspect of the self. Positive in that one has a stronger awareness of how life includes growing, healing and self-repairing. It's not that you have the capacity for those processes; it's what your body is doing all the time, and the healing crisis is one manifestation of this. In fact all experienced symptoms are examples, including suffering at various levels. This perception is so different from the orthodox that it takes considerable time to develop the confidence to truly take it on board. To assist someone new to the philosophy, it is important to confidently give an explanation for disturbing experiences that supports the Nature Cure perception. And crucial, is a genuine awareness of the holistic principle; that every part and aspect of you continuously affects every other.

It's easy to pay lip service to this concept but the benefit is achieved only if applied personally on a day-by-day basis. And the benefit of the healing crisis accrues best if the perceived self-image includes confidently understanding that, most of the time, you do not need, and indeed are better off without, any form of medical intervention or help.

Murray McGrath is a Dental Practitioner and NC adherent.

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