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Naturopathic medicine
is a distinct system of medicine for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
human disease and impairment. It stresses health maintenance, disease
prevention, patient education, and patient responsibilities and emphases the
treatment of the whole person rather than just treating the disease. Unlike most
other health care systems, naturopathic medicine is not identified with any
particular therapy, but with a philosophy of life, health and disease - Vis
Medicatrix Naturae, "the healing power of nature." Fundamental to this
belief is a deep confidence in the ability of the body/mind to heal itself given
the opportunity. All true healing is the result of the whole organism’s inherent
and natural capacity, and it could be said "desire," to be as healthy as it can
be. Naturopathic physicians help to remove the obstacles to cure and employ
natural therapies that strengthen and stimulate each person’s own healing
processes.
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Indian History
The practice of Nature cure in some or
the other way is not new to the Indians. Many of the practices are part and
parcel of Indian life style and become an inseparable entity of Indian tradition
and culture. Few practices have gradually evolved into full fledged therapies
and have gained a status in the field of health care.
During Vedic period there is clear
concept about medicinal value of water, earth etc. Among different rivers
Ganga’s water was considered as instrumental one in curing Heart disease and
Arthritis. In Rigveda fasting was considered as supreme medicine to eliminate
accumulated toxins in different systems of human body. The Manu Smriti has
prescribed rules and regulations about the personal hygeine. The Bhaghavat
Gita detailly elucidated the three varieties of food and its effect on human
body and mind. Rajgir - a religious pilgrim place in Bihar state became famous
due to hot springs which are capable to cure arthritis and asthma. When this hot
spring was investigated scientifically it was found that the hot spring water
contains sulphur ions. Other than these natural cold and hot springs
artificially hot and cold bathrooms were created in Royal palaces like Red Fort,
Delhi, Old Bhopal Fort, Madhya Pradesh etc.
Athapasnana is relevant protective,
excellent way to taking sun-bath in which body is covered by Banana Leaves
during sun bathing. Friction is an important movement in massage is done
normally during taking bath. Bhugarbha chikitsa was practiced since ancient
times along with sea-bathing, river bathing and pond bathing. Head and arm
massage was practiced publicly at different public places, which is known as
champissage.
Irrespective of the religions, faith,
the Indian tradition has many things to contribute to the health of a person
indirectly. Either it may be a fasting, visiting holy place, taking dip in
Ganges or Sea on holy occasions, ushapana (drinking water in the early morning),
achamana (drinking water while doing Japa) etc. etc. These practices though not
practiced as a treatment modality, are having great therapeutic values with firm
scientific background.
Not surprisingly, some other practices
have drawn its origin from the practice prevalent in Nature like birds, animals
etc. We often come across the practice of diseased animals where they rest to
fast and vomit out the unwanted material in the body. The animals and birds take
Sun bath in plenty, they get themselves into water for quite some time, they
cool the body by digging the earth and getting in touch with mud.
The revival of Nature Cure
started in India by translation of Louis Kuhne’s book “New Science of Healing”.
Shri D. Venkat Chelapati Sharma translated the book in Telugu language in about
1894. Shri Shroti Kishan Swaroop of Bijnor translated this book into Hindi and
Urdu languages in 1904. This gave a wide propagation to this system.
Gandhiji was influenced by the book
“Return of Nature” written by Adolf Just and became a firm believer of
Naturopathy. Gandhiji included Naturopathy in his constructive programmes. He
not only wrote several articles in favour of Naturopathy in his News
paper “Harijan” but also did its several experiments too on himself, on his
family members and on the members of his Ashram. He also wrote books on
naturopathy like ‘Nature Cure’, ‘Key to Health’, ‘Rama Nama’, ‘Diet and Diet
reforms’ etc. It may be noted here that Gandhiji used to stay at the “Nature
Cure Clinic” of Dr. Dinshaw Mehta in Pune during 1934 to 1944. In his memory the
Government of India established “National Institute of Naturopathy” in 1986 at
that place - Bapu Bhawan, Tadiwala Road, Pune which is rendering multifaceted
unique services. He established a Naturopathy hospital at Uruli kanchan, near
Pune which is still functioning. Due to influence of Gandhiji several national
leaders joined this minority health movement. The names of Ex-Prime Minister
Shri Morarji Desai, Ex-Governor of Gujarat Shri Shri Mannarayanji, Ex-President
Shri V.V. Giri, Acharya Vinobha Bhave and Shri Balkova Bhave need special
mention in this regard.
In India Nature Cure movement started
mainly in the Stated of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra
and Gujarat etc. The Naturopaths who did foundation work in revival of
Naturopathy in different States are Dr.
Mahavir Prasad Poddar, Dr. Vegi Raju Krishnam Raju, Dr. Janaki Sharan Varma, Dr.
Khushi Ram Dilkash, Dr. S.J. Singh, Dr. Hiralal, Dr. Vittal Das Modi, Dr.
Kulranjan Mukherjee, Dr. Sukhram Das, Dr. J. M. Jussawala, Dr. M.M. Bhamgara,
Dr. B. Venkat RAo, Dr. B. Vijay Laxmi, Dr. Ganga Prasad Goud “Nahar”. Shri
Dharam Chanda Saravagi and Acharya K. Laxman sharma etc.
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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. Here it may also be mentioned
that Modern Nature Cure movement was started Germany and other western countries
with Water Cure (Hydrotherapy). Water Cure was synonymous with Nature Cure in
those early days. The credit of making Water cure World famous goes to Vincent
Priessnitz (1799-1851) who was a farmer. Later on others also made their
contribution in this work. The name of Louis Kuhne needs special mention, who
propounded the principle of Unity of Disease and treatment and provided a
theoretical base to this treatment method. The book “New Science of Healing”
written by him has been translated in numerous languages of the world.
Naturopathic medicine grew out of
alternative healing systems of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but
traces its philosophical roots to the vitalistic school of medicine of Ancient
Greece (circa 400 BC). Over the centuries, the two competing philosophies of
medicine, vitalistic (now called natural medicine) and mechanistic (now called
allopathic or conventional medicine), have alternately diverged and converged,
influencing and shaping one another.
Dr. Benedict Lust was the founder of
naturopathy and the man who sustained and popularized it. Lust had been exposed
to a wide range of practitioners and practices of natural healing arts. He was a
student of Father Kneipp, a great practitioner of hydrotherapy (water therapy).
Lust brought Kneipp’s hydrotherapy with him to America from Germany in 1892. In
1902, he founded the American School of Naturopathy. The years from 1900 to 1917
were formative ones for naturopathic medicine in America as the various forms of
natural medicines were combined into one eclectic system. Here the American
dietetic, hygienic, physical culture, hydrotherapy, spinal manipulation, mental
and emotion healing, botanical / herbal medicine, and homeopathic systems of
natural healing were all merged into naturopathy.
From 1918 to 1937, great interest and
support for naturopathic medicine emerged from the public. In the early 1920s
naturopathic movement reached its peak in terms of public awareness and
interest. Conventions nationwide were well attended by professionals, the
public, and even several members of Congress. And many states enacted
naturopathic licensure laws. The naturopathic journals of the 1920s and 1930s
provide much valuable insight into the prevention of disease and the promotion
of health. Much of the dietary advice focused on correcting poor eating habits,
including the lack of fiber in the diet and an over reliance upon red meat as a
protein source. Ironically, in the 1990s, the National Institutes of Health and
the National Cancer Institute confirmed the early assertions of naturopathic
physicians that such dietary habits could lead to degenerative diseases, and
only now are advocating for the very same dietary principles that naturopaths
always advocated.
Nature cure movement was started in
Germany & other western countries with “Water cure” (Hydrotherapy). Water cure
was synonymous with Nature Cure in those early days. The credit of making Water
Cure world famous goes to Vincent Priessnitz (1799-1851) who was a farmer. Dr.
Henry Lindlahr and others go to the extent of crediting him as “Father of
Naturopathy”. The word “Naturopathy” was coined by Dr. Scheel in the year 1895
and was propagated and popularised in the western world by Dr. Benedict Lust. A
number of Doctors of modern medicine and others became Nature Cure enthusiasts
and gradually added a number of modalities within the fold of Naturopathy and
scientifically developed them.
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