“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”
- c. 460 BC – c. 370 BC
- Greek
- Physician, “Father of Medicine”
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Quote
“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”
Explanation
This quote is widely attributed to Hippocrates and, while not found in this exact form in the Hippocratic Corpus, it accurately reflects one of the central tenets of Hippocratic medicine: that the body possesses an innate capacity to heal itself. Hippocrates believed that the physician’s role was not to override nature, but to assist and support its natural processes, primarily through observation, diet, rest, and minimal intervention.
The “natural forces” refer to what Hippocrates called “physis”, or the body’s self-regulating, restorative power. According to this philosophy, health was the result of balanced humors and harmonious living, and disease signified a disruption in that balance. The physician’s task was to facilitate the return to equilibrium, often by adjusting the patient’s environment, food, and lifestyle, rather than prescribing aggressive treatments.
This concept remains influential today, especially in preventive medicine, holistic health, and rehabilitation. From immune response and tissue repair to the psychological resilience involved in recovery, modern science continues to affirm that the body has remarkable healing mechanisms. The quote serves as a reminder that, even amid technological advances, trusting and supporting the body’s natural strength remains a foundation of good medicine.
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