By Dr. Angelica Perry, DO
(This article originally appeared in Venture Inward Magazine, Spring 2026 Edition)
As an osteopathic physician, I recommend the following to my patients:
- Drink an adequate amount of water (around 64 oz. daily)
- Sleep an appropriate amount (for most people, that is 7–9 hours per night)
- Exercise (a minimum of 20 minutes of continuous movement daily—if able)
- Go outside (spend at least 20 minutes daily with direct sunlight on as much skin as you can comfortably expose)
- Connect on a personal level with those whom you encounter (12 hugs a day)
- Eat a healthy diet (5+ servings of fruits and vegetables, preferably including 5 naturally occurring colors each day)
Edgar Cayce’s recommendations for nourishing the body and maintaining health include eating a regular diet of alkaline-forming foods, but also maintaining a positive attitude, consistently engaging in not only exercise but service to others, using the will and life force for good in ways that become accessible, and always seeking updated guidance from our own soul through meditation, dreams, and our daily experiences.
Cayce and many in his inner circle felt that the real pearls to be harvested from his readings could be found in the “Search for God” and meditation materials. Those who sought to have a reading, however, often brought questions about physical health or other earthly concerns. The bulk of the readings took a turn from physiological topics toward changing mental attitudes and beliefs, and incorporating a way of doing or a reason for doing things that would be of a spiritual nature. Physical suggestions given in the readings were meant to support spiritual growth. Manual spinal manipulation and its use to coordinate the nervous system were frequently mentioned. My choice to become an osteopathic physician was influenced by exposure to holistic medical ideas that I encountered at programs sponsored by the A.R.E. More than the recommendations for steams, massages, castor oil packs, and osteopathic treatments, the Cayce teachings on oneness, reincarnation and karma, mind as the builder, meditation and prayer, the power of will and ideals, and service as spiritual practice have shaped my life.
In Carol Baraff’s Edgar Cayce’s Everyday Health: Holistic Tips, Remedies and Solutions, she lays out a Cayce-inspired prescription for healthy living. Carol was a long-time employee at the Heritage Store in Virginia Beach and wrote a regular column for their newsletter on Cayce remedies and concepts. Her articles were edited to create this book, which is an easy read with a whimsical style. Carol was my friend and mentor. She met her husband, Jim, at early A.R.E. youth events. I worked many summers, under her guidance, in the A.R.E. Camp kitchen, preparing mummy food, gelatin, and other Cayce favorites for the children and families who attended. Carol taught me about cooking and about being true to my heart and to my soul purpose.
Edgar Cayce’s Wisdom for the New Age: Keys to Health by Eric Mein, MD, is a short read that I found thoughtful and concise. Eric was a pain management and rehabilitation specialist and a long-time student of the Cayce readings. He worked with David McMillin, Doug Richards, and Carl Nelson to form the Meridian Institute, which supported research that tested the suggestions in the readings. In the years before his death, Dr. Mein organized and led a study group of health professionals, in which I participated. We met monthly to review the health-related circulating files and update or improve them. In this book, Dr. Mein explores the Cayce paradigm: living a life of service and dedication to purpose guided by meditation, ideals, dreams, and inspiration. He developed a Health Inventory questionnaire, which provides prompts that examine how we may or may not prioritize our own physical health.
What habits are we willing to pick up or set aside to nourish and sustain our physical, mental, and spiritual health? How much time will we devote to spiritual practices? What does it mean to live by an ideal or to dedicate one’s life to a spiritual purpose? How much of our resources are we willing to put toward cleansing the body and the mind? How do we define our higher purpose for which we dedicate our time and resources? These questions have different answers for everyone. The Cayce readings contain many individualized recommendations that may or may not be specifically applicable in your life or mine. We must each seek our own guidance on which of the remedies and practices are worthwhile for us to prioritize.
A Cayce diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods (vegetables, fruits) and 20% acid-forming foods (proteins, grains). Excess acidity can lead to diseases and infections, as pathogens thrive in acidic environments. A meatless diet was frequently recommended to improve health. It was stated that meat can hinder spiritual development, and large quantities in the diet should be avoided. The nightshade family includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and tobacco. Cayce’s readings suggest that these foods may be a detriment to individuals with certain health conditions, such as arthritis and acid reflux disease. Preventing toxic accumulation in the body by maintaining regular eliminations is a frequently referenced topic in the readings. Colonic irrigations were suggested to help remove toxins, as well as enemas and olive oil by mouth.
The benefit of consistent, daily exercise was emphasized. Specifically, reaching up and bending down type exercises were outlined for morning, and seated or floor exercises for evening. Walking was considered the best exercise for most bodies, especially when done outdoors. The Head and Neck exercises are reported to help with vision, headaches, and other issues.
Physical and mental health were often discussed in relation to beliefs and attitudes. Many physical therapies were recommended in the readings, but none so much as the retraining of the mind to hold beliefs congruent with the reality of the non-physical world, as well as attitudes of gratitude, acceptance, and forgiveness. RaTa, a previous incarnation of the soul we know as Edgar Cayce, had a dream to refine the human race. According to the readings, purification of the body and mind was promoted in the ancient Egyptian temples, so that followers could become clear channels for selfless service.
As the A.R.E. morphs to meet the needs of today’s seekers, I continue to consider how “The Work” will carry on in the world. I take heart that so many vibrant souls are serving at headquarters, prioritizing this work as a spiritual service. I am grateful that so many around the globe continue to seek understanding and to practice the wisdom found within these readings and other great spiritual traditions. The association is first for research and then for enlightenment. We must both investigate and experience in order to synthesize wisdom within our own hearts and minds. I always enjoy checking out a circulating file while I am visiting the headquarters and learning a little more about a certain topic through the lens of the Cayce readings. For those of you who have not done so previously, I encourage you to go to the website and check out the many circulating-file topics available to you at no cost with your membership. Anyone who has read or tried to read some Cayce readings knows that it can be difficult to make sense of the material without context, experience, and perhaps guidance. These curated packets provide a manageable chunk of material that a person can read, understand, and apply.
I also encourage you to explore the Health Inventory at your convenience and consider the level to which you are making your own health and well-being a priority in your life. Application of the Cayce concepts and remedies is a lifelong endeavor, just as quieting the mind and listening for the ever-present call of the Creative Forces is a venture that will never be completed. I believe that choosing ideals to guide our decisions, taking actions to synchronize the body and mind, and being intentionally present with an expectant heart are some of the most radical and effective strategies we can employ toward living a healthy and satisfying life. Thank you for taking the time to consider what is right for your own path. In so doing, we do the world a great service.
Dr. Perry is an osteopathic physician who specializes in Family Practice and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. She offers Cayce-based medical consultations, evaluations, and hands-on osteopathic treatments to patients at locations in Roanoke, Blacksburg, and Floyd, Virginia, as well as at the A.R.E. Spa in Virginia Beach.
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