Diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and many other poorly understood illnesses should no longer be viewed as disorders of either the mind or the body. The mind and body act as one unit and thus we must approach them together.
To maintain the strongest immune system possible, you must have a nutritious diet, get regular exercise, and reduce stress in your life. You must attend to all three of these areas to achieve your optimum health.
Some people eat a nutritious diet and exercise regularly, but are so keyed up in their lives that their stress levels overcome all of the success they achieve in the first two areas. Other people might have successfully modified their mental and spiritual state but are eating unhealthy diets or are sedentary. Others might make significant advances in all three areas, but are doing foolish and harmful things to their bodies, such as smoking or using excessive alcohol, which take away from their achievements.
Dr. Andrew Weil, noted author and director of the program in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona, has written extensively about the body's ability to heal itself. Many health care providers have witnessed people overcome complex medical illnesses without the assistance of medicine. Though medicines are vital for overcoming many acute illnesses, they might be less important in overcoming chronic diseases.
You can take advantage of the body's inner ability to heal by eating well, exercising regularly, and striving for spiritual well-being. Eliminate other negative factors such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other insults to the your body. Only you can put it all together and it cannot be achieved overnight. There is no better time to start than now.
