"Naturopathy: a distinct system of non-invasive healthcare and health assessment in which neither surgery nor drugs are used, dependence being placed only on education, counselling, naturopathic modalities and natural substances, including without limitation, the use of foods, food extracts, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, digestive aids, botanical substances, topical natural substances, homeopathic preparations, air, water, heat, cold, sound, light, the physical modalities of magnetic therapy, naturopathic non-manipulative bodywork and exercise to help stimulate and maintain the individual's intrinsic self-healing processes."

Naturopathy as a discipline began in 19th century Europe. Known simply as "the nature cure", it spread to the United States and acquired its present name around the turn of the century. Some of the European fathers of Naturopathy were:

Vincent Priessnitz (1799-1852) Priessnitz developed a system of water cures that he used successfully on himself and many others. Priessnitz relied on nothing except cold water, a simple diet, and physical activity to heal his patients. "Our task," he would say, "is not to treat the disease, but the patient."

Theodor Hahn (1824-1883) Largely self-taught, Hahn was a lay practitioner who advocated using the water cure along with a vegetarian diet. "Hahn held the very modern belief that the nature doctor should be an educator who brought the knowledge of healthful living and natural treatments to the people so that they would realize they were responsible for their own health."

Arnold Rikli (1823-1906) Rikli, who was well educated as an industrialist but who had no formal medical education, employed the water cure and diet as healing modalities but also added the use of air and sunlight baths. He is known for saying, "Water is good; air is better, but light is best of all."

Father Sebastian Kneipp (1824-1897) Father Kneipp provided the link between the European nature cure and American Naturopathy. Kneipp was a priest, and physical healing was as much a part of his ministry as was saving souls. His approach to healing was holistic, advocating "the balance between work and leisure, stress and relaxation and the harmony between the mental, emotional, physical, social, and ecological planes. In short, 'he asked for a different life, not for better pills; he asked for the active patient and rejected the passive one.'"

Although their methods were similar, these healers were not in exact agreement. However, they were all working to muster the healing forces within each patient and, hence, they all practiced something that is closely akin to Naturopathy.

In the Healing Power of Nature living systems have an inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health.

The role of the Naturopath is thus to recognise and remove barriers to the healing process. In order to do this a Naturopath will:

Treat the underlying cause of illness (treat the cause);

Treat the whole patient (holism);

Educate the patient about their illness and how to care for themselves (teacher)

Develop strategies so that future illness can be prevented or likelihood of occurrence reduced (prevention).

Dr Claudia C Anton
Industry: Health/Science

Occupation: Naturopath/Research Scientist/Musculo-Skeletal Therapist

Altimate Wellness - Location: Sdney and Central Coast NSW Australia