Naturopathy

Introduction on Naturopathy

  History and definition

• History

History of Naturopathy dates back to centuries ago when there were no drugs. It first originated in Germany and then spread to America in 1800. Naturopathy is an art and science of healthy living in harmony with Nature. Ancient Indian writings such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata provide enough evidence for these claims. Nature cure as a system was widely propagated by Mahatma Gandhiji under the patronage of Dr Dinshaw Mehta in Pune before Independence. Gandhi’s Satyagraha encompassed principles of fasting, non-violence, inner transformation and minimalistic living and laid the foundation for naturopathy in the country through Gandhian way of life. Naturopathy Day is observed every year in the country on 18th November, the day on which Mahatma Gandhi become a Life Member of the Nature Cure Foundation Trust and signed the deed. Gandhiji is considered the founding figure of Naturopathy in India, as it was largely through his efforts that this practice which originated in Europe became popular in India.




  Definition & Principles


A system of disease prevention and treatment that avoids drugs and surgery. Naturopathy is based on the use of natural agents such as air, water, light, heat, and massage to help the body heal itself. It also uses herbal products, nutrition, acupuncture, and aromatherapy as forms of treatment. Naturopathy is a rational and evidence based system of medicine imparting treatments with natural elements based on the Theory of Vitality, Theory of Toxaemia, Theory of Self-Healing Capacity of the body and the principles of healthy living. Naturopathy believes in the principles of Unity of Disease and Unity of cure. It states that the germs are secondary cause of the disease and disease is caused due to lowered vitality or immunity. The aim of cure is to treat the cause and not the symptom. It lays emphasis of elimination of toxins, and foreign matter and improving one’s vitality. According to Naturopathy, Human body just like nature consists of 5 elements which need to be in balance.
• Fire: Fire represents the digestive juices of the body
• Water: Water represents all the fluids present in the body, such as blood and lymph
• Ether: Ether represents the hollow organs such as oesophagus etc.
• Air: Air represents the inflow and outflow of all the gaseous exchange happening in our body such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. It represents the energy and metabolic process in our body.
• Earth: Earth represents the musculoskeletal system of the body.

The harmony of all these elements keeps the body healthy. Naturopathic techniques are simple to follow and may be easily incorporated into people's everyday routines as needed. As a result, the system gained a momentum and became popular globally. In India, it was known in Hindi as ‘Prakriti Chikitsa’ or ‘Nisargopachar’ or ‘Kudarati Ilaaz’ and many other names but the word ‘Prakritik Chikitsa’ gained wide popularity and as such it was adopted for Naturopathy or Nature Cure.

Treatment modalities in Naturopathy:

The following therapies are used in Naturopathy: -

Diet Therapy

Fasting therapy

Exercise therapy

Yoga

Hydrotherapy

Chromotherapy

Magnetotherapy

Acupressure and Acupuncture

Aroma therapy

Massage and Manipulative therapies