A Disciple of the Ramchal Reveals the Secret to Physical Health in His Writings

Rabbi Moshe David Valle z"l was a Kabbalist, biblical commentator, and physician, recognized as one of the disciples and even a friend of the Ramchal. His writings were compiled into the "Book of Selections." Here are 5 quotes from his writings on the subject of physical illnesses and their remedies:

1. What Really Causes Illness? The Kabbalist reveals that the health of the human body does not depend on diet, but rather on the mental state of the person. He explains that everything depends on the person's spirit - if one is joyful, then the "lights of the heart" will spread abundantly to the body, bringing health and strength. Conversely, a person in sorrow will not receive these "lights," leading to illness.

In reference to what is said "A good report makes the bones healthy," and conversely "An evil report dries up bone," it seems it should have been said: "Good eating or bad eating," since from it a person becomes fat or thin. But surely the truth is that a person's health and physical robustness are not conditional upon food and drink, as one whose spirit is broken and soul is gloomy will gain nothing, even if eating all the world's delicacies, and will remain always frail and thin. This is because everything depends on the spirit standing in the heart, that if it receives its lights freely and abundantly, the body becomes healthy and joyful and strong, even moment by moment, as with a good report, because everything depends on the spread of lights in the heart, and from there to the body without preventer or stopper. When the spirit is broken and gloomy, it receives the lights only barely and narrowly, then the body becomes ill.

2. What Harms Health? Rabbi Moshe David Valle explains that what prevents those "lights" from the heart, upon which the vitality of the body depends, are those negative emotions and feelings of worry, sadness, anxiety, and fear, according to his words: "From this understand the matter of ‘Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the issues of life,’ since the main thing is that the heart needs to eat much from its allotted lights without anything bad preventing or hindering them, like bad reports, worry, sadness, anxiety, and fear, all of which remove or block the lights from the heart, and the body becomes frail and thin, because its whole vitality is from the heart, not the abundance of food; it's better to eat little with a joyful heart than to eat a lot with a sorrowful heart."

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3. What Should a Wise Physician Do? Rabbi Valle explains that the majority of illnesses originate from a person's spirit, and therefore the first thing a wise physician needs to do is check if there are worries in the person's heart, because when the soul heals, the physical ailment is easily removed. Another important point he mentions is that the doctor should maintain a pleasant and positive demeanor in front of the patient.

"Concerning the illnesses that come to people, know that most of them are from the ailment of the spirit, for it is the primary thing and the body secondary. Every wise physician, when coming to the patient, should inquire about the worries: if it's about something permissible, permit it; if it's about something prohibited, divert the patient’s mind with good words and comfort. Above all, greet the patient with a pleasant demeanor, and focus the healing primarily on the spirit, for this will easily remove the ailment from the body which is secondary."

He also writes that the soul is what heals the body; therefore, a wise physician who focuses on healing the soul will witness healings akin to real miracles, as he says: "The general conclusion – as said above, ‘Life of the flesh is a healing heart,’ and the wise and pious physician who grasps this, because it is the main thing and the body's healing is secondary to it. If executed properly, he is assured to achieve treatments so good and perfect, that they seem like miracles and wonders."

Watch the fascinating lecture by Rabbi Shnir Gueta on serving Hashem with joy:

5. The Explanation Behind the Placebo Effect. The phenomenon where doctors prescribe dummy pills, without the knowledge of patients who believe they received real medicine, is well-known. The doctor pretends it is real treatment, telling the patient it will improve their condition and lead to healing. Indeed, in many cases, patients heal from their illness without any real medicinal substance. Rabbi Valle explains the secret behind the placebo treatment and healing - the patient believes that now, having received the dummy treatment, they will truly recover, which fills them with joy. Although it’s a deception and illusion, the very joy heals them.

"And sometimes one will heal through persuasion that the treatment will benefit, and through the false, joyful imagination, the spirit will regain its strength, and the body will return to health."

Watch this must-view lecture by Rabbi Yigal Cohen on the faucet of salvations - joy:

How can one be joyful in life? Watch the unmissable lecture by Rabbi Chaim Zaid here: