All I Really Need to Know About Naturopathic Medicine, I Learned from Mama
Three months ago, just two days before her 94th birthday, my dear mother-in-law, Mother Susan Walters—“Mama”—passed away. At her funeral, I shared a story that has stayed with me for more than twenty years: in 2003, while in medical school, I interviewed Mama for a geriatrics paper. She was 73 at the time, and her wisdom about life, health, and healing left a lasting mark.
A few years before the interview, there was a popular book by Robert Fulghum named All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
So I titled my Geriatric paper, All I really need to know about Naturopathic Medicine, I learned from Mama.
A Healthy Mindset
When I asked Mama how to cultivate a healthy mindset, she said:
“I try to be happy by bringing good things into my thoughts. Bright things make you look up. When you have a task, do not fret about it. Start with one small step, then look back and see what you have accomplished. I don’t fret on things of this world. I don’t fret on what a store carries. A fretful heart takes you nowhere. Trust God. Be satisfied. Give thanks to God for all you receive.”
Encouraging Others
Mama believed in lifting people up:
“I speak to people respectfully in the street. If I see the police officer, I will say to him, excuse me sir, make sure you obey the laws of the country and try to obey the laws of God. Be honest. Encourage people.”
Diet and Nourishing the Body
Her advice was simple and rooted in common sense:
Masticate your food.
Drink water to flush out the kidneys.
If water in your cup has been sitting on the counter unattended, don’t drink it, put it away.
Start your day with hot tea.
Eating Cheese and bread every day is not good for the body.
Mama described her own diet:
“I eat well. I eat rice and peas, fish, green vegetables. I eat salad. For dessert, I eat yogurt. I eat an apple, orange, ripe banana, or grapefruit. I like a good cup of tea, sometimes with sugar and sometimes with milk, but too much sugar and milk is not good for the body!”
Caring for the Body
Mama had practical, unforgettable advice:
“Cover your neck with a scarf. You must wear clothing that covers your kidneys! Wear a long undershirt and, in fact, you should have an extra-large panty to cover your rim.”
When I was pregnant, she used to catch me in the kitchen and declare, “I am giving you a stern warning! Do not stand in front of the cold fridge.”
I am not sure if standing in front of the cold fridge was truly detrimental, but I can give testimony that I listened and had five healthy baby girls.
Healthy Aging
Her secret to aging well was joyful, simple, and active:
“My good thoughts make me healthy and have a good countenance. Have a joyful song in your heart. Be cheerful. Be satisfied. Read a book, read the Bible. I read the history of Jamaica, where I am from. I make a nice dinner, and I write a letter to a friend. I talk to my friends on the phone. I sew and crochet. I keep my room nice and clean and pretty.”
Spiritual Health
Mama also valued spiritual well-being:
“I would advise you to get you and your children’s clothes together and come to church with me.”
“In times of goodness, and also when you are down, know that you will become a conqueror and a victor, for God promotes mankind. Humankind is fixable. Thank God!”
Mama’s Legacy
Reflecting on Mama’s life, I see that she modeled the core principles of Naturopathic Medicine long before I opened a textbook:
Bright thoughts and gratitude
Encouragement and connection
Whole foods and hydration
Protecting the body and mindful living
Creativity, joy, and continued learning
Spiritual health
All I really need to know about Naturopathic Medicine, I learned from Mama.