In modern Western culture, there is an increasing interest in holistic medicine and following certain trends to achieve health. This is true, also, of those within the church. Some believe that following Daniel’s meal plan, for example, can help them achieve greater health or provide relief from an ailment. Others may be more interested in the medicinal properties of herbs mentioned in Scripture.
Before we start treating the Bible as a medical and wellness guidebook (and removing verses from their historical, cultural, and biblical context), though, we need to remember that Scripture’s main purpose is to tell us about God and how He has worked in history to bring about our salvation. The great story of the Bible gives us many details about events, people, and even plants and animals. It also culminates in what we read about the future of a restored creation with redeemed individuals forever living with the Lord. However, there are no specific passages that prescribe medical treatments or instructions for curing ailments. Lots of what we see regarding health and healing are miraculous acts from the Lord and are not necessarily prescriptive for what we will experience today.
For example, the woman with the issue of blood received healing from Jesus when she touched the end of His robe (Matthew 9:20-22). This act showed Christ’s care for the marginalized, oppressed, and sick, as well as His power to provide healing. But we should not expect that every woman with an issue of bleeding will receive a similar miracle. Instead, God will likely use medicine and other treatments to provide healing. The same is true for other illnesses we read about in the Bible, such as fevers, skin conditions, blindness, etc. God, in His compassion and grace, has provided us with doctors and medicine, and for this, we should be grateful. They are blessings from the Lord.
Thus, when considering the following ancient remedies, do not misconstrue them as detailed medical advice or as a plan of treatment for an illness. Many of these remedies come from specific periods in history and within the background of cultures that are different than modern Western society. Please be sure to consult a doctor before attempting to use any new treatment or food substance for a medical problem.
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1. The Healing Properties of Figs
During King Hezekiah’s rule over Judah, he became seriously ill. The Lord informed the king that he needed to put his house in order because he would die. Grieved at this news, Hezekiah prayed and asked God to remember his wholehearted devotion (2 Kings 20:2-3; also see 2 Kings 18:4). He was known as a man who followed the Lord.
Hearing Hezekiah’s sorrowful plea, the Lord sent Isaiah to comfort the king with the news that he would be healed, receive an additional fifteen years to his life, and be rescued from the king of Assyria (2 Kings 20:4-6). Although God is the One who healed Hezekiah, He instructed the prophet Isaiah to make a poultice of figs. Through this natural remedy, God healed the king.
Interestingly, Hezekiah’s illness was related to a boil on his skin (2 Kings 20:7; Isaiah 38:21). The fig poultice or ointment, depending on the translation, that Isaiah requested to be made continues to be a natural remedy that people use for skin problems. Today, individuals can find recipes to make their own fig poultices online for the treatment of similar issues.
Figs also have benefits when eaten. They are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and promote digestive and heart health, according to an article by Cleveland Clinic. By eating figs, people invest in being healthier.
We should note, however, that Hezekiah’s healing from this mortal illness was a miracle. God had already declared that the king would die, and the rescue from this sentence came by His intervention. A fig poultice was used, but it was the direct work of the Lord that healed him. As Hezekiah told God, “You restored me to health and let me live” (Isaiah 38:16, NIV).
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2. The Use of Wine to Soothe Stomach Issues
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he instructed the younger man to consume wine. As he wrote, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23, NIV). Apparently, Timothy had digestive issues and often suffered from sickness. The use of wine was presented as a remedy by the Apostle.
Commentators are often divided over this verse, especially those who are strongly against the use of alcohol. Timothy did not drink alcohol regularly, as is implied from this verse, possibly because of the influence of those around him who practiced ascetism. Paul had encouraged him to keep himself pure (1 Timothy 5:22). However, maintaining strict abstinence from alcohol in this case was not wise. Drunkenness is condemned in the Bible, not the use of wine (Ephesians 5:18). And since wine could help Timothy with his digestive issues and other illnesses, it was needed for the sake of his health.
Today, wine (specifically red wine) is often popular for claims of health benefits and its role in aiding digestion. According to an article on Healthline by Matt Berger, “Researchers say people who drink a moderate amount of red wine have better gut health.” Wine is also supposed to be good for heart health; however, not all researchers agree on these benefits. As the article notes, people should be careful because alcohol consumption is connected to higher risks of cancer.
People are using red wine in modern day to help with their gut health, as Timothy did. Believers, though, should recognize that abstaining or partaking in the consumption of wine is a matter of personal freedom in Christ.
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3. Vegetables and Better Health
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken from Judah to Babylon and placed into the king’s service with the plan to train them for three years (Daniel 1:5-6). During this time, they were given an allotment of food from the king’s table, including meat sacrificed to idols. To eat this meat would mean they were participating in idol worship.
These young Hebrew men wanted to honor God, and so they resolved to only eat vegetables and drink water (Daniel 1:8-14). The chief official allowed them to do this if they appeared healthy after a trial period of ten days. And they did. Daniel and his friends were healthier than those who had consumed the meat and wine (Daniel 1:15). This impressed the chief official so much that all the others were also given this diet to follow (Daniel 1:16).
Although Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah followed this specific way of eating to avoid committing idolatry, people today use what is commonly called the “Daniel Fast” for health benefits. Essentially, this is a vegan diet (which means avoiding meat, dairy, and eggs) that participants adhere to for 10 to 21 days. The diet often includes grains and fruits in addition to vegetables, but avoids sugar and processed foods. Some individuals follow this as a form of fasting to spend more time with the Lord. Others, though, focus mainly on the physical benefits, such as “improved metabolic and cardiovascular health,” which was reported in a 2010 study.
Vegetables, of course, are an important part of a healthy diet and for receiving sufficient nutrition. Proper intake of water is also essential for health. However, students of the Word should recognize the need for caution when fad diets and trends use a passage from the Bible and remove it from its context. The emphasis in this event is not on the food; we are not even told the specific vegetables they ate. Instead, the focus of the passage is that Daniel and his friends sought to honor God by avoiding food/drink offered to idols, and God blessed their decision. Nowhere in the passage do we find an indication that this event is meant to be prescriptive – that if we restrict our intake to only vegetables for a period, we will be healthier.
Believers can choose to follow this “Daniel Fast” if desired. However, they should seek more than anything else to glorify God, knowing that “the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, NLT).
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4. Rest and Nourishment to Help Those Who Are Struggling
Elijah was exhausted. He had recently stood against the prophets of Baal, showing Israel that Yahweh alone is the true God. But Jezebel, the wicked wife of King Ahab, had sworn to kill him (1 Kings 19:1-2). Life was overwhelming, and Elijah slipped into despair. He prayed for the Lord to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).
In this moment of darkness, the Lord could have spoken to the prophet and rallied him back to action with truth-filled words. He could have even chided Elijah for succumbing to hopelessness. But the Lord did not do either of these things. No, God sent an angel to give the prophet something to eat and allow him time to rest (1 Kings 19:5-7). Only after receiving nourishment and sleep was Elijah ready to make the forty-day journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).
Often, what we need when we feel overwhelmed, grieved, or are struggling with spiritual, physical, or mental issues, is time to rest and refuel our bodies. God gave the Israelites the Sabbath for a reason, and the need for consistent rest still applies to believers today. We need time to enjoy a nourishing meal and to get enough sleep. Such simple acts, yet they can prove to be powerful remedies for a weary body and spirit.
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5. Jesus – the One who Heals Us from Sin
As terrible as physical illness is, separation from God is even worse. Those who remain in their sin and refuse to turn to the Lord are cut off from the relationship they were made for and the life for which they were created. And that separation will continue for all eternity if they continue to reject the gospel.
Jesus came to die for us to bring us healing. In Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah’s atoning sacrifice, he wrote: “by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV). The Hebrew word for healed in this verse is shalom, which means more than just peace or the absence of war. According to Strong’s Lexicon, it also carries the meaning of being made whole and complete, and this is what Jesus died on the cross to bring us. Through His death and resurrection, He cleanses and heals us from sin, removing the penalty of death.
This promise of healing involves the spiritual component (of freedom from sin), but also our entire physical, mental, and emotional wholeness. In eternity, we will live in resurrected, glorified bodies that will never perish or decay (1 Corinthians 15:53). The curse will finally be removed, and we will live in perfect health and holiness on a renewed earth (Revelation 22:3). We will be whole, as God always intended.
The ultimate remedy for our sins and decaying bodies is found not in a specific treatment or diet plan, but in the person of the Lord Jesus. His work on the cross is the ancient saving grace for people in the past, and for those of us today. Although we are still affected by sin’s effects, which include suffering from sickness and disease now, we can find hope knowing that we will soon be made whole. On that day, no one will have to endure the pain or fear of illness. Sin’s curse will be gone, all because Jesus bought our healing through His wounds.
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Originally published Tuesday, 22 April 2025.