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 In this section:

•	What is Naturopathy
•	Where Did it Originate
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Naturopathy

Where did it Originate?

The origin of Naturopathy can be traced back thousands of years to the roots of ancient healing therapies of a variety of cultures, including Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a formal system of medicine and healing, it began to emerge in Germany in the form of hydrotherapy, the use of fresh air, nutritious food, and sunlight to treat illness.

In the early 20th century, Naturopathy was developed into a more formalized healthcare treatment by Benjamin Lust, a German immigrant. Lust opened the first school of Naturopathy in 1902, which emphasized the more natural approach to curing illnesses based on proper hygiene and dietary principles.

Although Naturopathic Medicine became popular and widespread over the next 20-30 years, it began to decline with the development of conventional medicine and therapies. Over recent years, the rising cost of healthcare, the limits of conventional medicine, the concern over side effects, and addictions of modern pharmaceuticals has led many people to begin exploring more natural, cost effective and less invasive solutions to health issues. Complementary and alternative healthcare systems has seen a tremendous resurgence by both patients and doctors who are complimenting traditional therapies with a more natural approach to wellness.

In 1983 the World Health Organization recommended the integration of Naturopathic Medicine into the conventional healthcare system.

In 1992, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Office of Alternative Medicine invited leading Naturopathic Physicians to serve on a federal advisory panel to focusing on alternative medical research. In 1994, the NIH chose Bastyr University as the national center for research on alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS and provided federal funding for such initiatives. This helped to establish formal recognition and legitimacy of Naturopathic Medicine, and in 1998, the NIH established the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Currently, there are 15 U. S. states which have Naturopathic licensing laws, with others planning to enact Naturopathic licensing laws in the near future.

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