Introduction  

Naturopathy, also called naturopathic medicine, is a whole medical system--one of the systems of healing and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world. Naturopathy is rooted in health care approaches that were popular in Europe, especially in Germany, in the 19th century, but it also includes therapies (both ancient and modern) from other traditions. In naturopathyA  whole medical system that originated in Europe. Naturopathy aims to support the body's ability to heal itself through the use of dietary and lifestyle changes together with CAM therapies such as herbs, massage, and joint manipulatio,  the emphasis is on supporting health rather than combating disease.    

Key Points     

• People seek naturopathic care for various health-related purposes, including primary care, support of wellness, and treatment of diseases and conditions (often chronic ones).   
• Naturopathy focuses upon treatments considered "natural," but it is not without risk.   
• Education and training in naturopathy vary widely. Ask about a practitioner's education and training, as well as any licensing or certification.   
• Rigorous research on naturopathic medicine as a whole medical system is taking place but is at an early stage.   
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.   

A Brief Description of Naturopathy   

Naturopathy is a whole medical system that has its roots in Germany. It was developed further in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, where today it is part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).    The word naturopathy comes from Greek and Latin and literally translates as "nature disease."    

A central belief in naturopathy is that nature has a healing power (a principle called vis medicatrix naturae). Another belief is that living organisms (including the human body) have the power to maintain (or return to) a state of balance and health, and to heal themselves. Practitioners of naturopathy prefer to use treatment approaches that they consider to be the most natural and least invasive, instead of using drugs and more invasive procedures.   

Naturopathy was named and popularized in the United States by Benedict Lust, who was born in Germany in the late 1800s. When Lust became seriously ill with what he believed was tuberculosis, he was treated by a priest and healer in Germany named Sebastian Kneipp. Kneipp's treatment was based on various healing approaches and philosophies that were popular in Europe, including:   

• Hydrotherapy (water treatments).   
• The "nature cure" movement, which focused on restoring health through a return to nature. This movement advocated therapies such as gentle exercise, herbal medications, wholesome dietary approaches, and exposure to sun and air.   

Lust found his health much improved from Kneipp's treatment, and when he immigrated to the United States at the turn of the 20th century, he was dedicated to popularizing it. He gave it the name naturopathy, led the way in developing it as a medical system in the United States, and founded the first naturopathic college and professional association. In naturopathy's early years, other therapies were added to its practice-for example, homeopathy and manipulation  (a hands-on therapy).   

Naturopathy's popularity reached its peak in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. However, its use began to decline when drugs (such as antibiotics) and other developments in conventional medicine moved to the forefront of health care. Naturopathy began to reemerge in the 1970s, with increased consumer interest in "holistic" health approaches and the founding of new naturopathic medical colleges. Today, naturopathy is practiced in a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Survey findings on the number of Americans who use naturopathy are shown below.    

Americans' Use of Naturopathy   

In a national survey on Americans' use of CAM, published in 2004, just under 1 percent of the 31,000 survey respondents had used naturopathy. These respondents reported that they used it because they:    

• Believed that naturopathy combined with conventional medicine would help (62 percent)   
• Believed that conventional medical treatments would not help (53 percent)   
• Thought naturopathy would be interesting to try (44 percent)   
• Thought that conventional medicine was too expensive (28 percent)   
• Were referred to naturopathy by a conventional medical professional (17 percent).   

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CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used    together with      conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used    in place of    conventional medicine. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.    

Key Principles     

The practice of naturopathy is based on six key principles:   

1. Promote the healing power of nature.    
2. First do no harm.    Naturopathic practitioners choose therapies with the intent to keep harmful side effects to a minimum and not suppress symptoms.   
3. Treat the whole person.     Practitioners believe a person's health is affected by many factors, such as physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social ones. Practitioners consider all these factors when choosing therapies and tailor treatment to each patient.   
4. Treat the cause.    Practitioners seek to identify and treat the causes of a disease or condition, rather than its symptoms. They believe that symptoms are signs that the body is trying to fight disease, adapt to it, or recover from it.   
5. Prevention is the best cure.    Practitioners teach ways of living that they consider most healthy and most likely to prevent illness.   
6. The physician is a teacher.    Practitioners consider it important to educate their patients in taking responsibility for their own health.    

Who Provides Naturopathy    

In the United States, professionals who practice naturopathy generally fall into one of several groups. (The terms used by some practitioners vary and may depend on the legal situation in the states where they practice.)   

Naturopathic Physicians     

Naturopathic physicians are educated and trained in a 4-year, graduate-level program at one of the four U.S. naturopathic medical schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree and standard premedical courses. The study program includes basic sciences, naturopathic therapies and techniques, diagnostic techniques and tests, specialty courses, clinical sciences, and clinical training. Graduates receive the degree of N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine). Postdoctoral training is not required, but graduates may pursue it.    

Depending on where they wish to practice, naturopathic physicians may also need to be licensed. A number of states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories have such licensing requirements (see the box below), most often consisting of graduation from a 4-year naturopathic medical college and passing the national standardized board examination (known as the NPLEX). The scope of practice varies by state and jurisdiction. For example, some states allow naturopathic physicians with special training to prescribe drugs, perform minor surgery, practice acupuncture and/or assist in childbirth.    

Regulation of Naturopathy    

The following U.S. states and jurisdictions have laws regulating the practice of naturopathy:    

Alaska       Arizona       California       Connecticut

Hawaii       Idaho       Kansas       Maine       Montana

New Hampshire      Oregon       Utah       Vermont       Washington

District of Columbia    Puerto Rico      U.S. Virgin Islands

Traditional Naturopaths     

The second major group of practitioners are traditional naturopaths, or simply naturopaths. They emphasize education in naturopathic approaches to a healthy lifestyle, strengthening and cleansing the body, and noninvasive treatments. Prescription drugs, x-rays, and surgery are several of the practices that traditional naturopaths do not use. Education and training for these practitioners typically consists of correspondence courses, an apprenticeship, and/or self-teaching. Admission requirements for schools can range from none, to a high school diploma, to specific degrees and coursework. Programs vary in length and content. They are not accredited by agencies recognized for accreditation purposes by the U.S. Department of Education. Traditional naturopaths are not subject to licensing.   

Conventional Providers With Naturopathic Training   

This group consists of licensed conventional medical providers (such as doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, dentists, and nurses) who pursue additional training in naturopathic treatments, and possibly other holistic therapies. Education and training programs for this purpose also vary.