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Healthful Living

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Relation of the Mind to the Body

984. But few realize the power the mind has over the body.—Testimonies for the Church 3:184. HL 230.3

985. The sympathy which exists between the mind and the body is very great; when one is affected, the other responds.—Testimonies for the Church 4:60. HL 230.4

986. The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires, lies at the very foundation of a large share of the maladies which the sinner suffers.—Testimonies for the Church 4:579. HL 230.5

987. Sickness of the mind prevails everywhere. Nine tenths of the diseases from which men suffer have their foundation here. Perhaps some living home trouble is, like a canker, eating to the very soul and weakening the life forces. Remorse for sin sometimes undermines the constitution and unbalances the mind.—Testimonies for the Church 5:443. HL 230.6

Help for the Body through the Mind

988. Great wisdom is needed ... in order to cure the body through the mind. But few realize the power that the mind has over the body. A great deal of the sickness which afflicts humanity has its origin in the mind, and can only be cured by restoring the mind to health. There are very many more than we imagine who are sick mentally. To deal with men and women whose minds as well as bodies are diseased, is nice work.—Testimonies for the Church 3:184. HL 231.1

Influence of the Will

989. Thousands are sick and dying around us who might get well and live if they would; but their imagination holds them. They fear that they will be made worse if they labor to exercise, when this is just the change they need to make them well. Without this, they never can improve. They should exercise the power of the will, rise above their aches and debility, and engage in useful employment, and forget that they have aching backs, sides, lungs, and heads.—Testimonies for the Church 3:76. HL 231.2

990. I have met many who were really sufferers through their imagination. They lacked will power to rise above and combat disease of body and mind; and therefore they were held in suffering bondage.—The Health Reformer, January 1, 1871. HL 231.3

991. You have a determined will, which causes the mind to react upon the body, unbalancing the circulation, and producing congestion in certain organs; and you are sacrificing health to your feelings.... And yet you are capable of controlling your imagination, and overcoming these nervous attacks.—Testimonies For The Church 5:310.3. HL 231.4

992. The nerves ... control the vital action of every part of the system. If your mind is impressed and fixed that a bath will injure you, the mental impression is communicated to all the nerves of the body. The nerves control the circulation of the blood; therefore the blood is, through the impression of the mind, confined to the blood-vessels, and the good effects of the bath are lost. All this is because the blood is prevented by the mind and will from flowing readily, and from coming to the surface to stimulate, arouse, and promote the circulation. For instance, you are impressed that if you bathe you will become chilly. The brain sends this intelligence to the nerves of the body, and the blood-vessels, held in obedience to your will, cannot perform their office and cause a reaction after the bath.—Testimonies for the Church 3:70. HL 232.1

993. Let the mind become intelligent, and the will be placed on the Lord's side, and there will be a wonderful improvement in the physical health. But this can never be accomplished in mere human strength.—The Medical Missionary, 216. HL 232.2

994. Keep the power of the will awake; for the will, aroused and rightly directed, is a potent soother of the nerves.—Testimonies for the Church 1:557. HL 232.3

995. Bring to your aid the power of the will, which will resist cold, and will give energy to the nervous system.—Testimonies for the Church 2:533. HL 232.4

Cheerfulness Productive of Health

996. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. Nothing is so fruitful a cause of disease as depression, gloominess, and sadness.—Testimonies for the Church 1:702. HL 232.5

997. That which brings sickness of body and mind to nearly all is dissatisfied feelings and discontented repinings.—Testimonies for the Church 1:566. HL 233.1

998. Heart-sickness makes many dyspeptics; for mental trouble has a paralyzing influence upon the digestive organs.—Testimonies for the Church 3:184. HL 233.2

999. The less the attention is called to the stomach after a meal, the better. If you are in constant fear that your food will hurt you, it most assuredly will.—Testimonies for the Church 2:530. HL 233.3

1000. We should encourage a cheerful, hopeful, peaceful frame of mind; for our health depends upon our so doing.—Testimonies for the Church 3:13. HL 233.4

1001. Cheerfulness and a clear conscience are better than drugs, and will be an effective agent in your restoration to health.—The Health Reformer, June 1, 1871. HL 233.5

Doing Good a Remedy for Disease

1002. You who are suffering with poor health, there is a remedy for you. If thou clothe the naked, and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house, and deal thy bread to the hungry, “then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” Doing good is an excellent remedy for disease.—Testimonies for the Church 2:29. HL 233.6

1003. The consciousness of right-doing is the best medicine for diseased bodies and minds. He who is at peace with God has secured the most important requisite to health. The blessing of the Lord is life to the receiver.—The Signs of the Times, June 15, 1882. HL 233.7

1004. The condition of the mind has much to do with the health of the physical system. If the mind is free and happy, under a consciousness of right-doing and a sense of satisfaction in causing happiness to others, it will create a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole system, causing a freer circulation of the blood and a toning up of the entire body.—Testimonies for the Church 4:60. HL 233.8

1005. Doing good is a work that benefits both giver and receiver. If you forget self in your interest for others, you gain a victory over your infirmities. The satisfaction you will realize in doing good will aid you greatly in the recovery of the healthy tone of the imagination. The pleasure of doing good animates the mind and vibrates through the whole body.—Testimonies for the Church 2:534. HL 234.1

1006. The blessing of God is a healer; and those who are abundant in benefiting others, will realize that wondrous blessing in their hearts and lives.—Testimonies for the Church 4:60. HL 234.2

Restorative Power of the Spirit of God

1007. The influence of the Spirit of God is the very best medicine for disease. Heaven is all health; the more deeply heavenly influences are realized, the more sure will be the recovery of the believing invalid.—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 13. HL 234.3

1008. Sickness of the mind prevails everywhere. Nine tenths of the diseases from which men suffer have their foundation here.... The religion of Christ, so far from being the cause of insanity, is one of its most effectual remedies; for it is a potent soother of the nerves.—Testimonies for the Church 5:443. HL 234.4

1009. In nine cases out of ten the knowledge of a sin-pardoning Saviour would make them better both in mind and body.—Testimonies for the Church 5:448. HL 234.5

1010. Many carry a violated conscience, and can be reached only by the principles of Bible religion.—Testimonies for the Church 3:168. HL 235.1

1011. A sore, sick heart, a discouraged mind, needs mild treatment; and it is through tender sympathy that this class of minds can be healed. The physician should first gain their confidence, and then point them to the all-healing Physician. If their minds can be directed to the Burden-Bearer, and they can have faith that he will have an interest in them, the cure of their diseased bodies and minds will be sure.—Testimonies for the Church 3:184. HL 235.2

1012. A person whose mind is quiet and satisfied in God is in the pathway to health.—The Review and Herald, March 11, 1880, No. 11. HL 235.3

1013. The assurance of God's approval will promote physical health. It fortifies the soul against doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief, that so often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a most debilitating and distressing character.—The Review and Herald, October 16, 1883. HL 235.4

1014. The exalting influence of the Spirit of God is the best restorative for the sick.—Testimonies for the Church 1:556. HL 235.5