History of Nature’s Medicine In North America

Natural  Medicine: a distinct system of non-invasive healthcare and health assessment in which neither surgery nor drugs are used, dependence being placed only on education, counseling, natural medicine 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, natural  non-manipulative bodywork and exercise to help stimulate and maintain the individual's intrinsic self-healing processes."

In looking at the natural healers and practitioners of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one can find many common points. All of them believed in healing by bringing strength to the individual rather than by curing specific diseases. All had a reverence for nature, and many of them could point to specific observations that led to the formation of theories and practices. Personal experience of illness and recovery often led them to practice natural healing. They frequently learned from each other or studied on their own, instead of, or in addition to, receiving a formal education. Most were persecuted by the medical establishment. Those on record were highly successful, bringing good health to many people.

Whether they emphasized the use of hydrotherapy, nutrition, non invasive manipulation, herbs, or homeopathy, the goal for all practitioners of natural healing was to stimulate the body to heal itself. Vis medicatrix naturae, or the healing power of nature, remains central to natural medicine philosophy today. Rather than trying to attack specific diseases, natural healers focus on cleansing and strengthening the body. Regardless of the specific methodology, and regardless of whether the healer practiced in the last century or is active today, the approach remains basically the same.

In 1902, Benedict Lust organized the Naturopathic Society of America, which was reorganized as the American Naturopathic Association (ANA) in 1919. In 1921, Lust was elected president for life. Shortly after he died, the organization split in two, forming the Eastern ANA and the Western ANA, each with its own constitution, officers, programs, and conventions.

Personality conflicts as well as philosophical difference led to the split. The Eastern naturopaths were determined to follow the example set forth by Kneipp et al., while those in the West seemed determined to "medicalize" naturopathy. "The two camps developed their own textbooks which showed their different points of view: Paul Wendel's Standardized Naturopathy (1951) and Harry Riley Spitler's Basic Naturopathy (1948)."

It seems that most, if not all, of the American naturopaths whose work is well documented had some kind of formal training in the natural healing arts or in medicine. However, not all of this formal education occurred before they began to practice. For example, after learning natural healing from Father Kneipp and others informally and then establishing his practice, Benedict Lust earned degrees in Osteopathy and Medicine. After the American School of Naturopathy, which he had founded, gained its charter in 1905, it conferred on Lust the Doctor of Naturopathy degree.

Early practitioners of "the nature cure" learned through observation and self experimentation. Later healers learned by apprenticeship. Some had a conventional medical education but rebelled against it, and still others were educated in Osteopathy and Chiropractic, with the addition of intense independent study.

As to what kind of education these healers recommended for others, there was also variation. One healer, who felt that doctors should be artists rather than scientists, said "Furnish them with the necessary portion of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, but not too much of it. (Schweninger 1926, 43-46)".

Benedict Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in 1901. Here students learned "basic sciences, physiotherapy, phytotherapy, geotherapy, electrotherapy, and mechanotherapy. Degrees in naturopathy and chiropractic were granted." Lust also established a school of massage and physiotherapy. In addition to classroom education, he offered naturopathic home-study courses through his journal.

In 1947, in a speech before the Eastern ANA, Dr. Jesse Mercer Gehmann, president at the time, stated, "We need standards and we need more, to stand by them, once they are established.... These standards should insist upon a thorough training in basic Nature Cure. All students should be required to be thoroughly competent in applying the methods of the old Masters ... Our standards should include thorough training through study of Kneipp, Priessnitz, Just, Kuhne, Rikli, Trall, Schroth, Graham, Jennings, Lust and Macfadden ... We need adequate standards for entrance upon training for a Doctorate in Naturopathy, but these standards need NOT be, nor should they be patterned after the medical requirements. Our work is not based on warped and decadent pathology, bacteriology, or biology (cited in Freibott 1990, #7)."

The name “NATUROPATH” in fact,  is controversial and the true origin of the name is unclear. It is known that the word was coined, possibly from "nature" and "homeopathy," a system of healing that Naturopaths had begun to use. Many early Naturopaths objected to the name because, in literal translation, it means natural disease. However, Lust credited it with helping to end his persecution. "The prosecution became so intense that we could not use the words cure, healing, therapy, therapist, physician, doctor, or any similar title. We were all in despair. Finally we decided to use the word 'Naturopath' as being the only safe term by which we could designate ourselves as having to do with "the nature cure" and disease (1921,479)." In 1998 a group of Natural Medicine Practitioners  reclaimed their rights to TRADITIONAL NATURAL MEDICINE as DNM-Doctor of Natural Medicine in honor of Dr Lust’s original intentions.

Doctors of Nature’s Medicine now “ DNM-Doctor of Natural Medicine” are dedicated to upholding Dr Benedict Lust principles and to preserve traditional natural medicine  health care for the next generation. Traditional Nature’s doctor respect boundaries in health care and do not condone the practice of So called "MEDICALIZED NATUROPATHS” “ALLOPATHS”  practicing under the disguise of Natural Medicine.

Note: The once Persecuted or now the Precruiters !
“DOCTOR”  
1303, "Church father," from O.Fr. doctour, from M.L. doctor "religious teacher, adviser, scholar," from L. doctor "teacher," from doct- stem of docere "to show, teach," originally "make to appear right," causative of decere "be seemly, fitting" (see decent). Familiar form doc first recorded c.1850. Meaning of "holder of highest degree in university" is first found c.1375; that of "medical professional" dates from 1377, though this was not common till late 16c. Verb sense of "alter, disguise, falsify" is first recorded 1774.
A person awarded an honorary degree by a college or university.
Abbr. Dr. Used as a title and form of address for a person holding the degree of doctor. Roman Catholic Church An eminent theologian and a practitioner of folk medicine or folk magic
“DOCTOR” cannot be owned by anyone!

• Health freedom is about consumer choice, expanding existing scope of practice laws, and obtaining holistic insurance coverage.
• Regulating “naturopathy” restricts access to trained holistic consultants.
• Inferior medical attention is not synonymous with natural health or common sense healthcare reform.

Legislating the licensing of “Modern naturopathic physicians” (NPs) and dietitians will affect health care quality and affordability. Dietitians and NPs are pursuing licensure state-by-state in order to monopolize the fields of nutrition and natural medicine.

For the record, traditional naturopathy or traditional natural medicine advocates oppose licensure for the following reasons:

• Licensing makes the practices of traditional natural medicine and holistic nutrition counseling illegal.
• A Natural Medicine education is accredited academically, not by the medical profession and their accrediting body, the American Medical Association's Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
• “Modern Naturopathic Doctors/ physicians “mix naturopathic and allopathic medicine without any sufficient medical training, hospital experience, or trauma education.
• Licensed “Modern naturopathic Doctor/ physicians seek the status of primary care physicians without sufficient medical training. Dietitians seek the status of nutrition counselors without sufficient education in holistic nutrition.
• “Modern Naturopathic Doctor/physicians and dietitians advocate diagnostic care; traditional naturopaths/Doctor of Nature’s Medicine and holistic nutrition counselors emphasize healthy lifestyle choices and wellness care.
• Elevating “Modern Naturopaths to primary care status will distort the practice and philosophy of true natural healing, and will elevate the cost of consultation and natural substances to that of traditional medical pricing.
• Consumers will no longer have access to traditional natural medicine consultants. Choices will be increasingly limited to special interest groups and low-tech, insufficiently-trained medical doctors.
• Licensing dietitians as nutrition counselors will severely limit public access to such personal choices as macrobiotic foods, vegetarianism, organic and whole foods diets, and Ayurvedic nutrition.