...The body is an instrument, the most sacred instrument, an instrument which God Himself has made for His divine purpose. If it is kept in tune and the strings are not allowed to become loose, then this instrument becomes the means of that harmony for which God created man.

When we consider that the human body is an instrument that God created for His own experience, then what a mistake it must be to allow this body, through drugs and medicines, to become unfit for the use of the divine Spirit. It is not meant by this that medicine is never necessary. Medicine has its place...

...The best medicine is a pure diet, nourishing food, fresh air, regularity in action and repose, clearness of thought, pureness of feeling and confidence in the perfect Being, with whom we are linked and whose expression we are...

Self‑healing is more desirable than healing by others; the former strengthens the will, the latter weakens it. Many people think that hypnotic and psychic power alone can heal; but they do not realize how the healer must first heal himself by the practice of the strictest morality from the lowest to the highest phase of his existence. He must purify himself by Iman, or faith. Then only can he claim to be a healer.

In every soul there is the power of the Almighty, there is a spark of divine light, there is the spirit of the Creator; and therefore all that man wishes to have is his birthright... If the soul knew the power of his natural inclination to enjoy health, he would experience health in life in spite of all the difficulties that the conditions of life may present.

Here are some suggestions for amplifying Murshid’s guidelines

Diet

General

• Allow enough time to eat without rushing the meal. Don’t eat on the run or standing up.
• Generally, keep regular meal times.
• 3 main meals (but frequent small meals for those with hypoglycaemia or who are very weak).
• Make sure you are eating enough to ‘fuel’ your work and activity.
• A substantial warming breakfast to start the day.
• Chew well: drink your food and chew your water.
• Eat in a pleasant, loving atmosphere.
• Avoid aggravation while eating: emotional arguments, distressing news (eg on radio or TV), taxing intellectual reading/debate.

The Best Foods Are

• Living, rich in energy.
• As fresh as possible.
• Grown as locally as possible.
• Eaten in their natural season.
• When possible, organic, without chemicals.
• Foods that promote alkalinity (especially vegetables and fruit) and reduce acidity.

Season, Energy, Constitution

Adjust one’s diet for the season,
for the energy of the food, for one’s constitution:

• Eat warming foods in winter, avoiding cold food and drink, especially when straight from the fridge.
• Eat more raw foods and fruits in summer.
• If one easily feels cold and/or weak, avoid foods that are cold and cooling.
• If one has a lot of phlegm and slow digestion, avoid cold and damp foods (damp: especially dairy, greasy, rich, fried foods, sugar,peanuts, bananas).
• If one is too hot, red, ‘full‑blooded’, reduce heating foods such as red meat, alcohol.

Foods to Reduce or Avoid:

• Generally: refined and processed foods.
• Refined flour and all foods made with it (cakes, pastries, pasta etc).
• Sugar and all foods in which it is an ingredient (sweets, cakes, pastries, ice‑cream, most processed foods). It unbalances the blood sugar, creates patterns of low energy, headaches, depression etc, leads to heart disease, arthritis and many other problems.
• Fried foods.
• Ice‑cold food and drink.
• Stimulants: alcohol, coffee, black tea.
• Toxic substances eg tobacco.
• Foods with additives and chemical colourings.
• Artificial sweeteners eg Aspartame.

Drinking

• Drink small quantities of water regularly during the day ‑ eg one glass every hour.
• Inadequate drinking can lead to constipation and also be a factor in some headaches.
• Distinguish between useful fluids and fluids with chemicals (eg CocaCola), or those which are diuretic (eg black tea).
• Avoid water stored in plastic bottles ‑ glass bottles are preferable.
• Generally, storage of drink and food is better in glass containers.

Common Diet‑related Patterns to Watch out for:

• Low blood sugar, which may be long‑term or triggered by stress, hard work or eating sugar:
  • Functional signs: irritability, headaches, craving for food especially sweets, poor concentration, visual disturbance (misty), auditory disturbance (as if there is cotton wool in the ears), insomnia.
  • Physical signs: sweating, trembling, cramps.
• Pre‑menstrual stress can be helped by diet: eat a small amount of protein (nuts, seeds, cheese, egg, fish, meat) every 2‑3 hours for 10 days before the period.

Rhythm of Life and Life-style

• Create a regular daily rhythm.
• Alternate work and rest. Murshid suggests 5 minutes rest every hour.
• Modify stress or agitation with regular breaks during the day. As Chang Kong, teaches, ‘I put both feet on the ground, I calm myself, I smile...’.
• Taoist principle: gentle body movements and stretching for 10 minutes three times per day, lying on the ground.
• Sleep before midnight ‑ before 10pm is best. Tradition says: ‘every hour of sleep before midnight counts double’.
• For the quality of sleep, it is important to have enough slow‑discharging food sugars in the blood (ie not refined sugar).
• For the breath, cleanse the nostrils with a warm salt water solution, either by cupping it in your hand and inhaling it through each nostril in turn, or by using a Lota ‑ a small pot with a spout which allows you to cleanse the nostrils without pressurizing the mucus membranes.
• Cleanse and recharge one’s energy through contact with the earth and with plants.
• Therapists: after work take a shower or massage your aura with an essential oil eg lavender.
• Exposure to daylight: spend time outside every day and/or install a daylight frequency light bulb in your office or living space, especially in the winter.
• Minimize exposure to electro‑magnetic fields: those radiating from TVs, computers, mobile phones, cordless phones, mobile phone masts, radiators...

Herbs and Supplements

Herbs

• Basil: strong antispasmodic for intestines, stomach and abdominal distension. Antacid.
• Hawthorn: rectifies disturbance of cardiac rhythm. Insomnia.
• Lavender: calming, sedative, antispasmodic. Insomnia, migraine.
• Lime blossom: sedative. Insomnia.
• Melissa (balm): relieves anxiety, sedative. Stimulates memory.
• Peppermint: tonifies functions of liver and nervous system. Helps indigestion and headaches.
• Rosemary: tonifies liver. Antiseptic for respiratory passages. Stimulates body’s defence system.
• Thyme: strong anti‑infection action. Bronchitis, sinusitis, coughs. General tonic: tiredness and overwork. Antalgesic.
• Valerian: sedative for nervous system. Anxiety, spasms, irritability, overwork, depression, emotional over‑reaction.

Supplements

Vitamin C

• Anti‑oxidant: neutralizes free radicals which cause cellular ageing. In addition, it supports the regeneration of vitamin E, which is the principal anti‑oxidant in our system. Combining C and E therefore increases the cellular anti‑ageing effect.
• Supports the immune system.
• Stimulates the body’s anti‑microbial defences through synthesis of antibodies and its presence in white blood cells.
• Anti‑viral which supports the synthesis of interferon, effective against some cancers and leukemias, and in conditions such as arthrosis, gout, rheumatism, asthma, allergies, ulcers, diabetes, problems in pregnancy.
• Is involved in formation of red blood cells.
• Helps absorption and use of iron, which helps to speed up the formation of red blood cells and so reduces the risk of anaemia.
• Contributes to synthesis of noradrenalin, producing resilience against shock and improved concentration.
• Improves assimilation and fixation of calcium in bones.
• Antitoxic action: transforms heavy metals, carcinogenic substances (pesticides, air‑borne toxins such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, nicotine tar from tobacco) and diverse other toxins into soluble salts which the body is able to eliminate.

Vitamin D

• Deficiency of Vit D is caused by cortisone, antiepileptic drugs, alcoholism, hepatic and renal insufficiency, chronic digestive diseases, lack of exposure to sunlight.
• Effects of deficiency: rickets in infants, bone decalcification, poor muscle tone, cramps, frequent bone fractures.

Vitamin E

• Strong anti‑oxidant, neutralizes free radicals. Consequently: slows ageing in the eyes, skin and prostate, and wear of cartilage.
• Reduces the ratio of ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL) to ‘good’ cholesterol (LDL), protects from harm caused by atherosclerosis, protects from cardiovascular disease.
• Protects from certain cancers.
• Acts against infection and reinforces the immune system.
• Involved in the formation and protection of red blood cells.

Omega 3

• Regulates arterial tension and the elasticity of blood vessels, immune and anti‑inflammatory reactions, the binding of blood platelets.

Omega 6

• Important for the nervous system, cardiovascular balance, immunity, wound healing and allergic and inflammatory reactions.

Winter supplement

• Take a multi‑vitamin and multi‑mineral supplement.

Attention to Heart and Soul

• Relationships with others ‑ adab ‑ the beautiful manner of Sufis.
• Contemplation of nature.
• Create beauty in every way.
• Regular meditation practice in the same place, creating a beautiful space.
• Prayer.
• Let the memory of beauty be a resource ‑ an inner landscape for recharging the batteries atevery level.

Murshid’s healing prayer

By the divine power of Almighty God
My nerves are healed
My mind is still
My heart is at rest
My spirit in peace
Peace. Peace. Peace.

to be said 11 times before sleeping, thinking of Murshid.