Naturopathy is not in the practice of medicine or surgery...All the methods of a Naturopathy are natural methods, the agents of life such as food, air, sun, exercises, relaxation, sleep, the use of herbs" (Wendell P. Standardized Naturopathy: The Science and Art of Natural Healing, 1951).

"Naturopathy is not in the practice of medicine or surgery...All the methods of a Naturopathy are natural methods, the agents of life such as food, air, sun, exercises, relaxation, sleep, the use of herbs" (Wendell P. Standardized Naturopathy: The Science and Art of Natural Healing, 1951).

“Naturopathy does not contemplate drugs or surgical operations, nor is it within the scope of their science of practice. To the contrary, they do not use or prescribe drugs as part of their treatment, nor do they advocate or perform surgical operations on their patients." (Langley, Katherine. Congressional Record, February 7, 1931)

“Naturopaths restrict their practice to natural methods of healing and have no desire to engage in the discredited theories, experiments and practices of the ‘regular’ medicos" (Lust, Benedict. The Fight is on in California. The Official Naturopath and Herald of Health, September 1934, p.270)

Naturopathy Definitions

Herbal Medicine
Plants are used in different forms such as the entire plant in a tea (fresh or dried), a mother tincture (plant in alcohol), or as dried plants put in capsules. Throughout the ages people have turned to herbal medicine for healing. Many drugs used today originated in the herbal traditions of various cultures, such as the medication commonly used for heart failure, digitalis, which is derived from Foxglove. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people or 80% of the world's population use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary care.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old practice developed by the German physicianSamuel Hahnemann It is based on two main principles: The first one states that a substance that can cause certain symptoms when given to a healthy person can cure the same symptoms in someone who is sick. The second states that the more the substance is diluted, the more potent it becomes. Homeopathy is a very useful therapy that has its best results on chronic symptoms because it really works on the origins of the disease.

Naturopath
A naturopath is one who practices naturopathy. Naturopaths assess human health through counseling, questionnaires, family history, muscle testing, pulse testing, visual interpretation (such as skin, nails, gums, tongue, eyes), hair analysis, pH tests, biofeedback, transdermal screening, electronic techniques, body composition, adipose measurement, heat/cold measurement, and review of tests involving bodily fluids, tissues, genes, and systems. Naturopaths recommend the use of naturally occurring substances such as water, air sunlight, color, earthpower, electricity, magnetism, exercise, rest, proper diet, electrostimulation, various kinds of mechanical treatment, acupressure, reflexology, naturopathic manipulation, reflexology, counseling, mediation, prayer, moral science, herbology, homeopathy, clays, detoxification, fasting, and nutrition (foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, plants, glandulars, tissues, natural probiotics, cell salts, amino acids, lipids, etc.). Naturopaths assess the whole person, which can include all aspects of human health, including disease states, mental health, lifestyle, spiritual health, emotional well being, genetics, and environment.

Naturopaths (including naturopathic practitioners, naturopathic doctors, and naturopathic physicians) do not use X-rays, perform any surgical procedure, inject any substance into another person by needle, deliver infants, nor prescribe for or provide to another person any drug, substance, or device available by prescription only. Naturopaths do recommend, and sometimes sell, non-prescription supplements and devices, as well as provide advice on any aspect of the human condition.

Naturopathic Doctor
A naturopathic doctor is a naturopath who has a minimum of seven years of postsecondary education and possesses a degree or diploma that grants the use of the term "Naturopathic Doctor" or "N.D.". A Doctor of Naturopathy is the same as a Naturopathic Doctor. (Ideally, naturopathic doctors, if qualified, should be able to perform examinations and other non-allopathic functions that other physicians do, as we once were allowed to do in California).

Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine is the use of natural substances such as foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, glandulars, tissues, homeopathic remedies, herbs, plants, amino acids, lipids, natural probiotics, cell salts, amino acids, and similar substances to encourage the body to heal itself. Naturopathic medicine is not the use of allopathic prescription drugs by naturopaths (that would contradict basic naturopathic philosophy and the profession's adopted standards).

Naturopathy
Naturopathy is a non-invasive, eclectic, therapeutic system which employs nature's forces such as water, air, sunlight, color, earthpower, electricity, magnetism, exercise, rest, proper diet, various kinds of mechanical treatment, acupressure, reflexology, naturopathic manipulation, counseling, moral science, herbology, homeopathy, clays, detoxification, fasting, and nutrition (foods, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, plants, glandulars, tissues, natural probiotics, cell salts, amino acids, lipids, etc.).

Nutritional Therapy
In certain cases of pathologies, a specific diet is adapted to the patient for a determined period of time. If the quality of the food intake is not sufficient enough to improve the health condition, vitamins, minerals and other specific nutrients are added to the treatment for improvement.

Sources:
Nature Doctors - Pioneers in Naturopathic Medicine

Friedhelm Kirchfeld and Wade Voyle

©1994 Medicina Biologica Portland, OR; Buckeye Naturopathic Press East Palestine, OH