History of Naturopathic Medicine

The term "Naturopathy" was coined in 1895 by Dr. John Scheel of New York City. Benedict Lust purchased the term "Naturopathy" from Scheel in 1902 to describe the eclectic compilation of doctrines of natural healing that he envisioned was to be the future of natural medicine.

Naturopathic medicine, sometimes called "Naturopathy," is as old as healing itself and as new as the latest discoveries in biochemical sciences. Today's Naturopathic Doctor easily blends modern, state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and research with ancient and traditional methods. They represent a thoroughly rational, evenhanded balance of tradition, science and respect for nature, mind, body and spirit.

Hippocrates is often considered the earliest predecessor of Naturopathic Physicians, especially for his formulation of the concept “vis medicatrix naturae,” the healing power of nature (the word "physician" actually comes from the Greek root meaning "nature"). This concept has long been at the core of indigenous medicine in many cultures around the world, was at the core of Germany's Nature Cure System in the mid-1800's, and remains one of the central themes of Naturopathic philosophy to this day."

In 1896, Dr. Benedict Lust (MD) brought naturopathy to America and established the first naturopathic college, the Yungborn Health Institute in New Jersey. Naturopathic medicine was popular and widely available throughout the US well into the early part of the 20th century. Around 1920 there were a number of Naturopathic medical schools (including one in Minneapolis), thousands of Naturopathic Physicians, and many thousands of patients using naturopathic therapies. The rise of “scientific medicine,” the discovery and increasing use of “miracle drugs” like antibiotics, and the formation of a large medical system primarily based on high-tech and pharmaceutical treatments were all associated with the temporary decline of Naturopathic Medicine and most other methods of natural healing in the mid-century.

Naturopathic medicine began a rebirth in the last quarter of the twentieth century resulting from a growing consumer movement to solve the health care puzzle using prevention, wellness and respect for nature's inherent healing ability. These fundamental, unifying principles of naturopathic medicine can be identified in their common disciplines. The earliest doctors and healers worked with herbs, foods, water, fasting, and tissue manipulation - gentle treatments that do not obscure the body's own healing powers. Today's Naturopathic Physicians continue to use these therapies as their main tools and to advocate a healthy dose of primary prevention. In addition, modern American Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) receive extensive training in the use of therapies that are primarily natural (hence the name naturopathic) and nontoxic, including:

	Nutritional Science
	Natural Hygiene and Lifestyle
	Botanical Medicine
	Naturopathic Physical Medicine and Hydrotherapy
	Homeopathy
	Ayurvedic Medicine
	Counseling
	Spirituality and Health
	Minor Surgery
	Methods of Laboratory and Clinical Diagnosis
	Hydrotherapy

Recent History

Today, licensed and registered Naturopathic Doctors are experiencing noteworthy clinical successes, providing leadership in innovative natural medical research, enjoying increasing political influence, and looking forward to an unlimited future potential. Both the American public and policy makers are recognizing and contributing to the resurgence of the comprehensive system of health care practiced by NDs. In 1992, Congress created the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), formerly known as the Office of Alternative Medicine, and invited leading Naturopathic Physicians (educators, researchers, and clinical practitioners) to serve on key federal advisory panels and to help define priorities and design protocols for state-of-the-art alternative medical research. In 1994, the NIH selected Bastyr University as the national center for research on alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS. At a one-million-dollar level of funding, this action represented the formal recognition by the federal government of the legitimacy and significance of naturopathic medicine.

Meanwhile, the number of new NDs is steadily increasing, and regulation of Naturopathic Doctors is expanding into new states. By 2008, fifteen US states, Washington D.C., the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and four provinces in Canada had naturopathic regulating laws:

	Alaska
	Arizona
	California
	Connecticut
	Hawaii
	Idaho
	Kansas
	Maine
	Minnesota
	Montana
	New Hampshire
	Oregon
	Utah
	Vermont
	Washington
	British Columbia
	Saskatchewan
	Manitoba
	Ontario

A number of other states and provinces are likely to enact naturopathic registration or licensing in the near future.

Naturopathic medical education is growing by leaps and bounds. At this time, there are six accredited, graduate level naturopathic medical schools:

Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington
National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, Arizona
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, New Westminister, British Columbia
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Ontario, Canada
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bridgeport, Connecticut
National University of Health Sciences, Lombard IL has applied for accreditation.

Additional information on naturopathic schools can be found at http://www.aanmc.org/ . The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) was established in February 2001, to propel and foster the naturopathic medical profession by actively supporting the academic efforts of accredited and recognized schools of naturopathic medicine.

Profile of a Profession: Naturopathic Medicine
Conducted by the University of California, San Francisco. Funded by the Arkay Foundation

WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: FINAL REPORT 2000

Definition and Description of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct profession of primary health care, emphasizing prevention, treatment and the promotion of optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and modalities, which encourage the self-healing process, the vis medicatrix naturae.

The U.S. Department of Labor defines Naturopathic Physician as one who “diagnoses, treats, and cares for patients, using a system of practice that bases its treatment of all physiological functions and abnormal conditions on natural laws governing the body, utilizes physiological, psychological and mechanical methods, such as air, water, heat, earth, phytotherapy (treatment by use of plants), electrotherapy, physiotherapy, minor or orificial surgery, mechanotherapy, naturopathic corrections and manipulation, and all natural methods or modalities, together with natural medicines, natural processed foods, herbs, and natural remedies. Excludes major surgery, therapeutic use of x-ray and radium, and use of drugs, except those assimilable substances containing elements or compounds which are compounds of body tissues and are physiologically compatible to body processes for maintenance of life.”

Most Naturopathic Doctors provide primary care natural medicine through office-based, private practice. Many receive additional training in disciplines or modalities such as midwifery, acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Naturopathic diagnosis and therapeutics are supported by scientific research drawn from peer reviewed journals from many disciplines, including naturopathic medicine, conventional medicine, European complementary medicine, clinical nutrition, phytotherapy, pharmacognosy, homeopathy, psychology, and spirituality. Information technology and new concepts in clinical outcomes assessment are particularly well suited to evaluating the effectiveness of naturopathic treatment protocols and are being used in research, both at naturopathic medical schools and in the offices of practicing doctors. Clinical research into natural therapies has become an increasingly important focus for Naturopathic Doctors.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The practice of naturopathic medicine emerges from seven principles of healing. These principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease and are examined continually in light of scientific analysis.

These principles stand as the distinguishing marks of the profession:

1. The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
   Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body's inherent ability, which is ordered and intelligent, to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to recovery, and to facilitate and augment this healing ability.

2. Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
   The Naturopathic Physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to eliminate or merely suppress symptoms.

3. First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
   Naturopathic medicine follows three standards to avoid harming the patient:
   • utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects;
   • avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms;
   • acknowledge and respect the individual's healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness.

4. Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
   Naturopathic physicians educate the patient and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also acknowledge the therapeutic value inherent in the doctor-patient relationship.

5. Treat the Whole Person Naturopathic physicians treat each individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, Naturopathic Physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual path.

6. Prevention Naturopathic Physicians emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine strives to create a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.

7. Wellness Wellness follows the establishment and maintenance of optimum health and balance. Wellness is a state of being healthy, characterized by positive emotion, thought and action. Wellness is inherent in everyone, no matter what dis-ease(s) is/are being experienced. If wellness is truly recognized and experienced by an individual, it will more quickly heal a given dis-ease than direct treatment of the dis-ease alone. (This principle was adopted by Bastyr University and added to the six principles.)

Practice Modalities
Licensed or registered Naturopathic Doctors (NDs or NMDs) are general practitioners trained as specialists in natural medicine. In practice, Naturopathic Doctors can perform physical examinations, laboratory testing, gynecological exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analysis, and allergy testing. They may order x-ray, ultrasounds, other imaging procedures, and other diagnostic tests. They are the only primary care doctors clinically trained in the use in the following wide variety of natural therapeutics. Naturopathic Doctors combine and tailor these treatments to the needs of the individual in a way that acknowledges the patient as a participant. Although all NDs are trained in all the following modalities, many choose to focus in some of the areas over others. Talk with your ND to find out what modalities they use most commonly.

Clinical Nutrition
Naturopathic Doctors understand that what you eat is the basis for your health. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively with foods and nutritional supplements than they can by other means, but with fewer complications and side effects. Naturopathic Doctors may use specific individual diets, fasting, and nutritional supplements with their patients.

Lifestyle Counseling and Stress Management
Mental attitudes and emotional states can be important elements in healing and disease. Naturopathic Doctors are trained in counseling, nutritional balancing, stress management, hypnotherapy, and biofeedback. They also attend to environmental and lifestyle factors that affect their patient’s health.

Botanical Medicine
Plants have powerful healing properties. Many pharmaceutical drugs have their origins in plant substances. Naturopathic Doctors use plant substances for their healing effects and nutritional value.

Homeopathic Medicine
This gentle yet effective system of medicine is more than 200 years old and is based on the principle that “like cures like.” Homeopathic medicines are very small doses of natural substances that can stimulate the body's self-healing response without side effects. Homeopathy works on a subtle, yet powerful, energetic level, gently acting to promote healing on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels.

Physical Medicine
Naturopathic medicine includes methods of therapeutic manipulation for muscles and bones. Naturopathic Doctors also employ therapeutic exercise, massage, hydrotherapy, gentle electrical therapies, ultrasound, and heat and cold.

Minor Surgery
As primary care physicians, Naturopathic Doctors perform in-office minor surgery including repair of superficial wounds and removal of foreign bodies, warts and cysts with local anesthesia.

Oriental Medicine
Naturopathic Doctors, with additional specialty training, are skilled in the fundamentals of oriental medicine and diagnosis. They may use acupuncture, acupressure, and Chinese herbal medicine to promote healing.

Natural Childbirth
Naturopathic Doctors, with additional specialty training, provide natural childbirth care in an out-of-hospital setting. They offer prenatal and postnatal care using appropriate diagnostic techniques.

Naturopathic practice also includes the use of any medicinal substances which contain elements that are components of bodily tissues or can be utilized by the body for the maintenance of life and the repair of tissues.

All methods of diagnostic testing and imaging are used, including x-ray and ultrasound.

Although all regulated Naturopathic Doctors are trained in all of the above diagnostic methods and treatment modalities, their “scope”- i.e., what they can legally utilize- varies by location. Each state or province that regulates naturopathic medicine has its own legislation to define an ND’s “scope of practice”.