'I'm not sick but I'm not well.' Does this sound familiar? I have known many people who are on a litany of medications. Yet they are still not functional: they lack energy and passion as well as the optimal physiological functioning for them to lead purposeful and loving lives. This is a book that you will cherish as a handbook for your lifetime pursuit of total wellness. Discover the essentials to: Create an inner world for true health Treat and prevent diseases through drug free principles Restore your inner peace Look and feel 20 years younger Triumph over fear and anxiety Discover your true self From Leaf to Life distils the essence of true health into the 9 Credos and the 7 Sacred Letters of Wellness. They offer simple, yet vital and powerful principles and therapies, which will enable you to create the conditions for your body to heal itself, so that you can thrive successfully in an increasingly stressful and toxic world. From Leaf to Life Unlock the Secrets to True Health By Sebastian Liew iUniverse, Inc. Copyright © 2013 Sebastian Liew All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4759-7015-9 Contents About the Author...........................................................ixForeword...................................................................xiiiAcknowledgements...........................................................xviiIntroduction...............................................................xixPART I: The 9 Credos Of Wellness™..........................................Credo 1: I love myself.....................................................3Credo 2: I open myself to grace............................................16Credo 3: My body can heal itself...........................................29Credo 4: My life is whole..................................................75Credo 5: I am the co-creator of life.......................................88Credo 6: Nature can heal us................................................97Credo 7: I am in harmony with all..........................................110Credo 8: Our bodies need unceasing care....................................120Credo 9: My healing is a journey...........................................125PART II: The 7 Sacred Letters Of Wellness™.................................1. Herbs...................................................................1362. Environment.............................................................2023. Assimilation............................................................2264. Love....................................................................2405. Exercise................................................................2706. Ritual..................................................................2867. Spirituality............................................................305Conclusion.................................................................321Epilogue...................................................................323Appendix...................................................................327References and Further Reading.............................................341Resources..................................................................361My Leaf to Life Diary......................................................364 Excerpt CHAPTER 1 Credo 1: I love myself. No riches can outweigh bodily health, no enjoyment surpass acheerful heart. (Ecclesiasticus 30:16) In deciding to read this book and seek healing, you have alreadymade the decision to love yourself. The following is the first and most important step towards gaininghealth and preventing disease. Love yourself. Why bother to be healthy when we all must die someday? Many ofus find no meaning in being healthy. Loving ourselves means nurturing our bodies, minds, and spiritsby providing them with all that is life-giving, so that we will havethe energy to pursue our life goals and care for others. Therefore,when we expose ourselves to unhealthy food, negative thoughts andbeliefs, and/or lifestyle habits such as smoking, violent sports, andinsufficient rest, we are not loving and respecting ourselves. Loving ourselves is not the same as indulgence. Some of us thinkwe love ourselves when we buy ourselves a nice car, branded goods,a big house, or delicacies like the bird's nest soup. Though they areinherently harmless in and of themselves, they are healthy for neitherbody nor spirit when we rely upon them for our self-esteem. * * * In March 2011, while I was in an organic food store in KualaLumpur, Malaysia, I overheard a customer asking the storekeeperwhy organic durians were so expensive. The owner, who was alsoan herb farmer, responded with these words of wisdom: "What youput in your stomach belongs to you; what is outside of you (such ascars, a house, and money) may not belong and last with you." Hisstatement was simultaneously simple and profound. Though most ofus will not hesitate to invest time and money in m