A professor who lived near Cochin in India was diagnosed with six
blocks in his heart arteries some years ago. He was ordered by his doctors to
undergo a bypass surgery. Instead, his friends and family checked him into a
Nature Cure Yogashram in Kerala. After 30 days, the professor came out
completely healed. He has followed the health principles he learned in the
hospital and has been enjoying good health since.
The Nature Cure Yogashrams of Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal, ND, Ph.D.
have helped more than 50,000 patients since the first one was established in
1981. Patients with blockages in their arteries, those who were unable to walk,
people with arthritis, women who haven’t gotten their periods in years, people
who suffered from infertility, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma,
diabetes, stones, ulcers, cancer (primary stage), tumor, obesity, drug/alcohol
addiction, tuberculosis–these were just some of the patients who were cured
without medicine and without surgery at these Nature Cure Yogashrams. They come
from all over the world and they check out not only with healed bodies and a
happier state of mind, but more importantly, with a better understanding of how
the body works. Dr. Maliekal chuckles, “These people are alive today, they are
in good shape and are very happy.”
Author
with Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal, a Catholic priest and a doctor who practices
naturopathy in Kerala, India. He is also the director of three “nature cure”
hospitals in India–hospitals that don’t use any medicines to treat the
patients. (Photo by Leo Tuazon)
Dr. Maliekal’s Story
Some 30 years ago, Rev. Thomas Maliekal, a Catholic priest,
suffered from severe health problems including asthma, migraine headaches and
obesity. Another priest encouraged him to start a nature cure diet and
explained to him how to change his lifestyle for better health. Rev. Maliekal
followed the advice and was eventually cured. He kept the lifestyle and has
since enjoyed three decades of almost perfect health.
“I was suffering, yet this suffering was easily cured without the
need for medication, without any side effects and with very little expense,”
the priest explained. Conventional medicines almost always give side-effects,
are expensive, and sometimes cause more ailments. When he got cured, Rev.
Maliekal tried to help other people. He started to learn more about
naturopathy, through his guru, naturopathy courses, and hands-on experience. He
expanded his study to include yoga, magnet therapy, physical exercises, herbal
therapy, and nutritional therapy.
Patients started coming to him for health advice and help with
their illnesses. Old people and patients with so-called incurable illnesses
came to him and got better, “so I thought I’d open a place where more people
can be cured through diet, exercise and other natural methods,” he said. It was
then that the St. Tresa’s Nature Cure Yogashram was born, a hospital that
operates upon the basic principle of naturopathy: The body has a special and
natural structure, which is 80% alkalinity and 20% acidity. When this natural
balance is kept, the body’s health is likewise maintained. It is a very simple
method, but definitely life changing.
Today, Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal runs two residential naturopathy
hospitals in Kerala: St. Tresa and Cardinal Padiyara, which was established
five years after St. Tresa. There is already a third one in Chandrapur near
Bombay, the Amala Nature Cure Yogashram. “People come and stay for 15 to
30 days to learn how to change their lives, to practice, and get well,” he
explained. At these nature cure hospitals, patients are encouraged to attend
classes and learn about naturopathy principles. They are also encouraged to
meditate, pray and keep their faith in God.
Backstory
about this photo: As a single mum and writer, I used to bring my young son
along when I had to work. Today, however, he’d rather be home alone. Time
flies; I miss those days. (Photo by Leo Tuazon)
The 5 elements that make up and
protect our bodies
The human body is composed of five elements: akasa (ether), vayu
(air), agni (fire), jel (water), and pritvi (earth). When kept in balance, the
presence and combination of these elements assist the body in its functions.
These elements also help the body get rid of toxins.
·
Emptiness is power. Ether or, essentially,
empty space in the body is created through fasting and prayer. When a person
fasts, the emptiness created helps the body remove the accumulated waste in the
system. Rev. Dr. Maliekal encourages everyone to fast at least once a week. A
person could do this by eating raw vegetables and fruits only, including juices
and water; by having less meals than what he normally has in a day; or, if he
is ready, by taking in water only. Fasting has some considerations and is
ideally done under the close supervision of a naturopath.
·
Air is obtained through exercise. Daily
exercise like yoga and tai chi is recommended. Rev. Dr. Maliekal also
emphasized the importance of wearing light colored clothing made from cotton,
as opposed to synthetic materials. “So that the air passes through and the body
maintains a connection with the sun, light and the cosmos,” he explains.
·
The body draws light energy from the sun, so
it is important to spend some time outdoors every day. A mild sunbath from 20
to 30 minutes a day is recommended. Exercises, meditation or prayer can be done
during this time. Light cotton clothes are best for these activities.
·
There are various ways to use water for
health: drinking; washing, bathing or cleaning; or by using water as therapy.
At Rev. Dr. Maliekal’s Yogashrams, therapeutic baths include the hip bath,
spine bath, full bath, mud bath and steam bath. Massage is also recommended.
·
The earth produces our food. It is important
to make sure that our daily diet is composed of 80% alkaline, and 20% acidic
foods. The satvic diet (positive or alkaline diet) is made of vegetables
including greens, sprouts and fruits. The rajasic diet (semi-acid,
semi-alkaline) includes cereals, grains, nuts and seeds. The thamasic diet (or
negative diet) is made of food items that are unnecessary, and those that cause
sickness. Examples of these acid forming foods are: those cultivated with
chemical fertilizers, junk food, sugar and its products, pickles, drinks that contain
tannin and caffeine, non-vegetarian foods, carbonated beverages, canned or
preserved foods, synthetic food items, and bakery items.
Follow the 80-20 rule at every meal, that is, one part rice for
every four parts of veggies. “If you do this every day, you can be perfectly
healthy and your illnesses will disappear… that’s all,” Rev. Dr. Maliekal
assures everyone.
The right way to eat and drink
Rev. Dr. Maliekal stressed the importance of chewing well, until
solid becomes liquid, before swallowing. He also advises against drinking
liquids while eating solid food. “Take your liquids half an hour before eating,
or one hour after,” he said. When one’s appetite is good, it is best to eat
during the day only. At night, liquid food like soup can be taken, or fruit be
eaten two hours before sleeping. Incidentally, a fruit (one variety at a time)
should be taken alone at a meal, for best results.
When drinking, don’t gulp your drink in but slowly sip it. A
person may drink warm or normal temperature water, but never cold drinks
because these stop digestion and lead to gassiness. As a general rule, avoid
food and drinks that are too hot or too cold.
Rev. Dr. Thomas Maliekal’s
Model Diet
6:00 a.m. – Drink pure water or vegetable juice like cucumber
(which could “melt” blocks in arteries, according to the good doctor)
6:30 a.m. – Meditation and exercises
8:00 a.m. – Eat fruits
11:00 a.m. – Take some vegetable juice, vegetable soup or coconut
water. May be taken with honey, muscovado sugar.
12:00 noon – Have some rice or wheat bread (1/3) with green leafy
vegetables (1/3), and cooked vegetables (1/3). Don’t take fruits with the meal.
2:00 p.m. – Have a glass of water
4:00 p.m. – Eat fruits or nuts
6:00 p.m. – Have cooked veggies, soup, and whole wheat bread
8:00 p.m. – Have some soup, honey water, or water with lemon juice
9:00 p.m. – Bedtime
Note: If your produce is not organic, simply clean them by soaking
in warm salt water or warm vinegar water from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then rinse
them using clean water.
5 Power Recipes
Daily Drink
Mix vegetable juice (cucumber, zucchini, carrot, etc.) with juice
of green, leafy vegetable (mint, parsley, malunggay, pechay, spinach, oregano,
basil, etc.). Experiment with the combinations to get the taste you want.
Peanut Milk
Mix peanut and water in a blender. Great for growing children. You
can also add some coconut milk.
Daily Dessert
Mix papaya, coconut milk and muscovado sugar in a blender. You may
also use honey instead of muscovado, and add raisins or other fruits.
Mango Chutney
Mix mango, raw coconut (firm), greens, salt, onion and chili. You
may also fry the coconut to get a variation in taste.
Best Salad
Mix orange slices with shredded coconut and muscovado sugar. You
may also add/substitute papaya, grapes or other fruits.
