Chapter 17—The Use of Remedies

Disease never comes without a cause. The way is prepared and disease invited by disregard of the laws of health. Many suffer in consequence of the transgression of their parents. While they are not responsible for what their parents have done, nevertheless it is their duty to ascertain what are and what are not violations of the laws of health. They should avoid the wrong habits of their parents and, by correct living, place themselves in better conditions.MHH 128.1

The greater number, however, suffer because of their own wrong course of action. They disregard the principles of health by their habits of eating, drinking, dressing, and working. Their transgression of nature’s laws produces the sure result. Unfortunately, when sickness comes upon them, many do not credit their suffering to the true cause. They murmur against God because of their afflictions. But God is not responsible for the suffering that follows disregard of natural law.MHH 128.2

God has endowed us with a reservoir of strength and vitality. He has also formed us with organs suited to maintain the various functions of life, and He designs that these organs shall work together in harmony. If we carefully preserve our God-given strength and keep the delicate mechanism of the body in order, the result is health; but if we use our strength recklessly and wastefully, the nervous system borrows power for present use from its resources of strength, and when one organ is injured, all are affected. Nature bears much abuse without apparent resistance, but then she arouses and makes a determined effort to remove the effects of the ill-treatment she has suffered. Her effort to correctMHH 128.3

these conditions is often manifested in fever and various other forms of sickness.MHH 129.1