The Báb hath said that the people of Bahá must develop the
science of medicine to such a high degree that they will heal illnesses by
means of foods. The basic reason for this is that if, in some component
substance of the human body, an imbalance should occur, altering its correct,
relative proportion to the whole, this fact will inevitably result in the onset
of disease. If, for example, the starch component should be unduly augmented,
or the sugar component decreased, an illness will take control. It is the
function of a skilled physician to determine which constituent of his patient's
body hath suffered diminution, which hath been augmented. Once he hath
discovered this, he must prescribe a food containing the diminished element in
considerable amounts, to re-establish the body's essential equilibrium. The
patient, once his constitution is again in balance, will be rid of his disease.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)