"You should not neglect your health but consider it the means which enables you to serve"
Physical Health
Maintaining physical health is important to our overall well being.
"Weakening one's self physically does not necessarily contribute to spiritual progress. Humility, kindness, resignation, and all these spiritual attributes emanating from great physical strength are acceptable to God. That an enfeebled man cannot fight is not accounted a virtue. Were physical weakness a virtue the dead would be perfect, for they can do nothing." (Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 98)
"...you should not neglect your health, but consider it the means which enables you to serve. It -- the body -- is like a horse which carries the personality and spirit, and as such should be well cared for so it can do its work! You should certainly safeguard your nerves, and force yourself to take time, and not only for prayer meditation, but for real rest and relaxation." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 3, 1947)
It is important to consult doctors when we are sick.
"Do not neglect medical treatment when it is necessary, but leave it off when health has been restored. Treat disease through diet, by preference, refrain from the use of drugs; and if you find what is required in a single herb, do not resort to a compounded medicament...Abstain from drugs when health is good, but administer them when necessary." (Bahá'u'lláh: Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, 1980 ed.,p. 106, cited in...)
"According to the explicit divine text the sick must refer to the doctor. This decree is decisive and everyone is bound to observe it." (Abdu'l-Baha - Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 461)
True healing is through physical and spiritual means.
"With regard to your question concerning spiritual healing: Such a healing constitutes, indeed, one of the most effective methods of relieving a person from either his mental or physical pains and sufferings. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has in His "Paris Talks" emphasized its importance by stating that it should be used as an essential means for effecting a complete physical cure. Spiritual healing, however, is not and cannot be a substitute for material healing, but it is a most valuable adjunct to it. Both are, indeed, essential and complementary." (Shoghi Effendi- Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 477)
“Healing through purely spiritual forces is undoubtedly as inadequate as that which materialist physicians and thinkers vainly seek to obtain by resorting entirely to mechanical devices and methods. The best result can be obtained by combining the two processes: spiritual and physical.” (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 475)
Our diet is the best way to ensure that we can live a long and healthy life. This gives us the greatest opportunity to fulfil our purpose in this world – to serve others, and in doing so, develop our own spiritual qualities.
“It is possible to cure by foods, aliments and fruits; but as today the science of medicine is imperfect, this fact is not yet fully grasped. When the science of medicine reaches perfection, treatment will be given by foods, aliments, fragrant fruits and vegetables, and by various waters, hot and cold in temperature.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 258)
While ill health is often unavoidable it is not always easy to deal with, we need to remember that no matter how weak the body feels the human spirit can be strong.
“Briefly, the human spirit is in one condition; it neither becomes ill from the diseases of the body, nor cured by its health; it does not become sick, nor weak, nor miserable, nor poor, nor light, nor small. That is to say, it will not be injured because of the infirmities of the body…” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 328)
“O maid-servant of God! Verily, the weakness of body and its strength do neither harm nor benefit; nay, rather the spirit must be strong through the breath of the Holy Spirit, at this time, so that it may apprehend the consummate wisdom which is deposited in this great age.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 219)
Also we should always remember that love and care are critical tools for helping a sick person to get better.
“We should all visit the sick. When they are in sorrow and suffering, it is a real help and benefit to have a friend come. Happiness is a great healer to those who are ill. In the East it is the custom to call upon the patient often and meet him individually. The people in the East show the utmost kindness and compassion to the sick and suffering. This has greater effect than the remedy itself. You must always have this thought of love and affection when you visit the ailing and afflicted.” – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, 1982 ed., p. 204.
"Healing through purely spiritual forces is undoubtedly as inadequate as that which materialist physicians and thinkers vainly seek to obtain by resorting entirely to mechanical devices and methods. The best result can be obtained by combining the two processes: spiritual and physical.”