History of Naturopathy

 

Naturopathy, as a form of medicine, was first practiced by the ancient Greeks in the 400 B.C. It is believed that Hippocrates, also referred to as the ‘Father of Medicine’, was one of the first patrons of naturopathy. But, in the modern times, the credit of propagating the use of natural medicines and remedies for health purposes is often given to the Nature Cure Movement. 

 

The Nature Cure Movement, which started in Europe, concentrated on several natural healing methods such as hydrotherapy. The hydrotherapy is a used to cure bodily ailments with the help of water. This method of natural healing was developed in Germany.

 

The term ‘naturopathy’ was coined in the year 1895 by a physician called Dr John Scheel. Practicing medicine in New York, Dr Scheel advocated the use of natural methods of treatment. However, it was a German immigrant by the name Benjamin Lust who not only purchased the term ‘naturopathy’ from Dr Scheel, but also formally introduced it in the United States. 

 

In fact, Benjamin Lust is also considered as the ‘father of naturopathy in the US’. In the year 1901, he opened the America School of Naturopathy, and followed it with the Naturopathic Society of America in the year 1902. 

 

Lust’s definition of naturopathy comprised of treatment methods such as homeopathy, herbal medicine, and hydrotherapy. Lust broadened the scope of naturopathy even further by including aspects such as healthy diet, hygiene, and emotional stability and happiness as part of the treatment process.

 

Naturopathy soon became a rage in the United States. From 1918 to well into the 1930s, naturopathy enjoyed a great following in the country. Some even refer to these years as the ‘halcyon years’ of naturopathy. Not only were more and more people resorting to naturopathy as their preferred form of medical treatment, but thousands of naturopathy enthusiasts applied for licenses to practice the medicinal form. Various groups and societies came up with regular publications based on the treatment methods of naturopathy. Needless to say, these publications were extremely sought after.

 

However, from the year 1945 onwards, the interest of the masses in naturopathic form of medicine started to decline. This was mainly due to two reasons. Firstly, allopathic medicines were fast gaining popularity, and secondly, after the death of Lust in the same year, the propagation of naturopathy suffered a setback.

 

But, only two decades later, naturopathy experienced a new surge of interest. A sizeable section of the American population was leaning towards healthy eating and leading a disciplined lifestyle. This led to the establishment of the first naturopathic college in the United States called, the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, in the year 1978.