A Short Historical Background

The word "naturopathy" was first used in the US about 100 years ago; however, the philosophic principles upon which naturopathic medicine is based have been in use since ancient times. As Rene Dubos noted in *The Mirage of Health* (1959), the word "physician" is from the Greek root meaning "nature." Hippocrates, a physician who lived 2400 years ago, is often considered the earliest predecessor of naturopathic physicians, particularly in terms of his teaching that "nature is healer of all diseases" and his formulation of the concept *vis medicatrix naturae* -- "the healing power of nature." This concept has long been at the core of indigenous medicine in many cultures around the world and remains one of the central themes of naturopathic philosophy to this day.

The earliest doctors and healers worked with herbs, foods, water, fasting, and tissue manipulation -- gentle treatments that do not obscure the body's own healing powers. Today's naturopathic physicians continue to use these therapies as their main tools and to advocate a healthy dose of primary prevention. In addition, modern NDs conduct and make practical use of the latest biochemical research involving nutrition, botanicals, homeopathy, and other natural treatments whenever possible.

Recent History

In the early part of the 20th century, Naturopathic medicine was popular and widely available throughout the US. Around 1920, from coast to coast, there were a number of naturopathic medical schools, thousands of naturopathic physicians, and scores of thousands of patients using naturopathic therapies. However, with the rise of "scientific medicine," the discovery and increasing use of "miracle drugs," the institutionalization of a large medical system primarily based on high-tech and pharmaceutical treatments -- a temporary decline in use and practice of naturopathic medicine and most other methods of natural healing ensued.

By the 1980s, however, the American public was becoming increasingly disenchanted with conventional medicine. Its profound clinical limitations, overall perceived lack of sensitivity to patient needs, and its out-of-control costs were becoming obvious, leading millions of Americans to look for "new" options and alternatives. For this and other reasons Naturopathic medicine experienced a dramatic resurgence.

Looking to the Future

Today, licensed naturopathic physicians experience noteworthy clinical successes, providing leadership in innovative natural medical research, enjoying increasing political influence, and looking forward to an unlimited future potential. Both the American public and policy makers are recognizing the importance of supporting a health care system including NDs. In 1992, the NIH's Office of Alternative Medicine, created by an act of Congress, invited leading naturopathic physicians (educators, researchers, and clinical practitioners) to serve on key federal advisory panels and to help define priorities and design protocols for state-of-the-art alternative medical research.

Naturopathic medical education has also experienced recent growth. Three of the four US naturopathic medical schools - National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, and Southwest College are accredited. The fourth, the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, is an candidate for accreditation. Within the past few years, all three US naturopathic medical schools, and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, moved to considerably larger campuses in order to meet the accelerating demand of prospective naturopathic medical students. Currently, every year, the schools collectively graduate over 600 naturopathic doctors, with 2000+ students in their ND programs alone.

With the number of new NDs steadily increasing, licensing of naturopathic physicians is expanding into new states. As of 2002, twelve states formally regulated naturopathic practice through (Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington,) and more states will follow, to assure only those who are properly trained in accredited program provide naturopathic medical services.

With tremendous renewal in interest, integration of research, expanding educational institutions, and recognition by the public and governmental agencies, Naturopathic Medicine is not only here to stay, but will continue positively influence our health care system.