Wellness Program

The key distinction between Hildegard's medical knowledge and modern science lies in the fact that her understanding came from supernatural sources, specifically divine visions granted to her by God. It is unlikely that this medieval nun could have independently discovered the medical insights that contemporary medicine is only now uncovering.

According to Saint Hildegard, healing is a holistic process that must take place on four interconnected levels: the divine, cosmic, physical, and spiritual. Diseases arise or manifest across these dimensions. When treating illness, the focus should not be solely on the affected organ, but on the person as a whole. Hildegard believed that humans are naturally healthy, but their diet and lifestyle can influence their well-being—either preserving or damaging it. In her view, food and medicine are not separate—what is truly healthy also acts as a healing remedy for the body.

Her dietary recommendations centered on spelt, fruits, vegetables, spices, and moderate amounts of meat, fish, milk, dairy.

Spelt: Only the ancient varieties are recommended. These include: Oberkulmer Rotkorn, Frankenkorn, Schwabenkorn, Ostro, Steiners Roter Tiroler.

Recommended vegetables: fennel, celery, beans, chickpeas, beets, carrots, parsley, horseradish, onion, pumpkin, garlic.

Vegetables with restrictions: potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, mushrooms.

Recommended fruits: apples, chestnuts, almonds, sweet cherries, sour cherries, quince, blackberries, currants, dates, raspberries, citrus fruits, pears.

Recommended spices and herbs: bertram, galangal, cinnamon, savory, garlic, nutmeg, cloves, hyssop, cumin, coriander, dill, yarrow, bay leaves, thyme, marjoram, lemon balm, mint, pepper, parsley, nettle.

Hildegard also identified certain food items that should be avoided entirely, referring to them as "kitchen poisons." These products should be removed from the diet as their consumption might be harmful. They contribute to the development of diseases, worsen existing conditions, and generally weaken and burden the body. These include: leek, peach, strawberries, plums and pork.

 

Hildegard's health program can be summarized in six key principles for living, known as the "Golden Rules". According to these principles, each individual plays a role in maintaining their own health and can influence it on a daily basis, both internally and externally. This means that through choices related to diet, lifestyle, and mental well-being, one can actively shape their health. Here are the six rules:

  1. Eat and drink appropriately
    Make wise food and beverage choices.
  2. Draw energy from the four elements: fire, water, air, and earth
    Live in harmony with nature and the cosmos.
  3. Maintain a balance between activity and rest
    Balance work with relaxation.
  4. Regulate your natural sleep-wake cycle
    Ensure these two forces are in balance.
  5. Practice methods of cleansing the body
    Detox through fasting, bloodletting, cupping, baths, or saunas.
  6. Nurture spiritual healing forces
    Replace negative habits with virtuous ones.

By integrating these habits into daily life, individuals can achieve balance and promote overall well-being, addressing both physical and emotional aspects. It’s a holistic approach, where every part of life contributes to maintaining good health.