What is Disease in Naturopathy?
➤ Introduction
When we think about health, most of us imagine a state where the body feels light, energetic, and active. The opposite of this state is disease. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself – What is disease, really? Is it just a name given to fever, cold, diabetes or cancer? Or is there something deeper, something that connects all illnesses at their root?
According to modern science, disease is any abnormal condition of the body that affects its function. But naturopathy, a natural system of healing, gives us a completely different and refreshing perspective. It doesn’t see disease as an enemy, but as a natural signal from the body. In this article, we’ll explore what disease truly means, why it develops, the common symptoms, and how naturopathy helps us return to health naturally.
➤ The True Meaning of Disease
In simple words, disease is a state of discomfort in the body or mind. It could be pain, weakness, swelling, fever or any condition that takes away our natural ease. The very word “disease” can be broken into “dis–ease,” meaning lack of ease.
From a naturopathic point of view, disease is not something that comes from outside. It is not a curse, not always the attack of bacteria or viruses, but a result of the body’s internal imbalance. When our natural cleansing systems fail to work properly, toxins begin to collect inside. These toxins are nothing but waste materials that should have been removed through stool, urine, sweat, and breath. If they remain in the body, they disturb the normal functioning of organs, and this disturbed state is what we call disease.
Thus, disease is not the problem itself – it is the body’s way of showing that something is wrong inside. It is a signal, a warning bell, a call to action.
➤ How Disease Develops in the Body
Disease does not suddenly appear in one night. It develops slowly, like dust settling in a house. If the house is not cleaned regularly, dust keeps piling up, and one day it becomes too much to ignore. The same thing happens inside our body.
- Accumulation of toxins – Wrong food, polluted environment, lack of rest, and negative thoughts add toxins to the body.
- Weak elimination – Our natural cleansing processes (stool, urine, sweat, breath) are unable to throw them out completely.
- Silent storage – The toxins remain hidden inside tissues and blood, sometimes for months or years.
- Warning signs – When the load becomes too heavy, the body reacts. Fever, diarrhea, cold, or skin eruptions appear.
- Chronic stage – If these natural warning signs are suppressed with drugs or ignored, the toxins go deeper and cause chronic conditions such as asthma, arthritis, or diabetes.
This process clearly shows that disease is not an outside attack. It is an inside response, an attempt by the body to clean and balance itself.
➤ What Causes Disease?
If you truly want to understand what disease is, you must look at its causes. According to naturopathy, there are three major reasons:
1. Unnatural Diet and Lifestyle
Food is the fuel for life. When we eat unnatural, processed, oily, or spicy food, the body struggles to digest it. Overeating, late-night meals and irregular habits add to the burden. Lifestyle choices like lack of sleep, overwork and irregular routines weaken the body’s natural cleansing system.
2. Lack of Physical Activity and Wrong Breathing
The body is designed to move. When we live a sedentary life, metabolism slows down and toxins pile up. On top of that, most people don’t even breathe properly. Shallow breathing reduces oxygen supply and leaves behind carbon dioxide, another form of waste.
3. Mental and Emotional Stress
Negative emotions like anger, fear, worry, jealousy also act like poisons. They disturb the hormonal balance and release harmful chemicals in the body. In the long run, mental toxins can be as damaging as physical ones.
So, what is disease? It is not just a random condition, it is the Result of wrong living.
➤ 10 Common Symptoms of Disease
Disease shows itself in many different ways. Here are 10 common symptoms that naturopathy identifies as the body’s efforts to remove toxins:
- Fever – The body raises its temperature to burn toxins.
- Diarrhea – The intestines push out waste rapidly.
- Boils and Skin Eruptions – The skin expels impurities.
- Cough and Cold – Excess mucus removes toxins from the lungs.
- Excessive Sweating – The skin becomes a detox channel.
- Fatigue – The body diverts energy toward healing instead of activity.
- Loss of Appetite – The body avoids food so it can focus on cleansing.
- Vomiting – The stomach throws out unwanted material.
- Body Pain – Toxins in muscles and joints create heaviness and stiffness.
- Inflammation or Swelling – The body tries to localize toxins and fight them.
Notice something important here what we call “Disease” is actually the body’s cleaning process. Fever, cold or diarrhea are not the real enemies, they are signs that healing has already begun.
➤ The Role of Nature in Healing
Naturopathy teaches us that the best doctor is nature itself. The body is designed with an inbuilt healing system. When we support this natural system, health is restored. But when we suppress symptoms with heavy drugs, the toxins go deeper and create long-term problems.
For example, taking medicine to stop diarrhea may give temporary relief, but it forces the body to hold on to waste that should have been removed. Similarly, suppressing fever with strong drugs lowers the temperature but prevents toxins from being burned away.
True healing comes when we allow nature to complete its work. Rest, fasting, simple diet, fresh air, sunlight, water therapy and positive thinking are the natural ways to assist the body in cleansing itself.
➤ Naturopathic Approach to Disease
Naturopathy answers the question “What is Disease” with a clear philosophy: disease is nothing but accumulated toxins, and the cure is their removal. The methods it uses are simple yet powerful:
- Fasting and Diet Correction – Giving rest to the digestive system and eating natural, plant-based foods.
- Hydrotherapy and Mud Therapy – Using water and earth to draw out toxins.
- Sun Bathing and Air Bathing – Recharging the body with natural elements.
- Massage and Exercise – Improving circulation and removing blockages.
- Mental Peace – Reducing stress, practicing meditation and maintaining positivity.
Unlike modern medicine, naturopathy does not fight the symptoms. Instead, it strengthens the body so it can heal itself. To understand the complete philosophy behind this natural system of healing, you can explore the 10 Basic Principles of Naturopathy: The Secret to Natural Healing
➤ Why Suppressing Disease is Harmful
When we ask, what is disease, the easy answer may be fever, cough, or pain. But the deeper truth is that these are only symptoms, not the root. When we suppress them with drugs, we silence the body’s alarm system.
Imagine your house is on fire, and instead of putting out the fire, you only turn off the fire alarm. Does the problem go away? No. In fact, it becomes worse. The same happens when we silence fever, diarrhea or skin eruptions without cleansing the body.
Naturopathy therefore encourages us to respect the symptoms and help the body complete its natural healing process.
➤ Prevention is Better Than Cure
The best way to stay healthy is to prevent disease before it appears. Naturopathy gives us some golden rules for prevention:
- Eat fresh, natural, seasonal foods.
- Drink pure water and avoid processed drinks.
- Exercise daily like yoga, walking or simple stretching.
- Practice deep breathing for oxygen and calmness.
- Maintain mental peace with meditation or relaxation.
- Sleep well and give the body enough rest.
➤ FAQs
- What is disease in simple words?
Disease means a state of discomfort or imbalance in the body, caused mainly by toxins or waste accumulation. - How does naturopathy define disease?
Naturopathy says disease is the body’s effort to remove impurities through natural cleansing processes like fever, diarrhea, or boils. - Can disease be prevented naturally?
Yes, by eating natural foods, exercising, breathing properly, and reducing stress, we can prevent most diseases. - Why is fever not considered harmful in naturopathy?
Because fever helps the body burn toxins and restore balance. It is part of the healing process. - Is naturopathy safe for all age groups?
Yes, since it uses natural methods like diet, fasting, and lifestyle correction, naturopathy is safe for children, adults, and the elderly.
➤ Conclusion
So, what is disease? It is not just a medical condition with a complicated name. It is not an attack from outside. Disease is the natural result of toxin accumulation and at the same time, it is the body’s attempt to cleanse itself. Symptoms like fever, cold, diarrhea or boils may look unpleasant, but they are signals of healing in progress.
Naturopathy teaches us to stop fearing disease and start understanding it. When we live in harmony with nature, eat pure food, breathe fresh air, and maintain peace of mind, the body remains balanced and when imbalance does occur, the body knows how to heal itself, if only we let it.
In the end, disease is not our enemy. It is our teacher, our guide, reminding us to return to the path of natural living.
By living close to nature, we not only prevent disease but also enjoy higher energy, better mood, and long life.
