Naturopathy (Not to be confused with naturopathic medicine or natural medicine) is the systematic application of lifestyle and natural forces to allow the body's innate healing potential to restore and maintain health. Naturopathy recognizes the natures inherent processes of healing, and acts in no way to suppress, antagonize or hinder these vital life forces, but rather to arouse, assist and cooperate with them through the use of use of natural agencies as air, sunshine, water, light, heat, electricity, body manipulations, rest, natural vital foods, organic vitamins, organic, minerals, herbs in conjunction with the cleansing and eliminating processes of other physical and mental cultures.[1] Naturopathy does not make use of synthetic or inorganic vitamins or minerals, or of drugs, narcotics, surgery, serums, vaccines, anti-toxins, toxiod, injections or inoculations. Naturopathy also provides for the prevention of sub-health conditions by teaching and applying the fundamental laws of natural living.[2] [3]. Naturopathy can be distinguished from medicine (and naturopathic medicine) in that it believes that all disease is the result of a departure from healthful living out of harmony with Natures laws and the only way to correct disease is to restore that harmony by living in accordance with natures laws. With this understanding the naturopath recognizes that the Medical notion one can shortcut nature by diagnosing and treating individual diseases with potions, wonder drugs, serums, surgery and rejects these notions as folly [4] [5]. Naturopathy medicine, on the other hand embraces these medical notions and consider themselves "primary doctors".
Naturopathy has its origins in the Nature Cure movement of Europe.[6][7] The term was coined in 1895 by John Scheel. Dr. Benedict Lust purchased the trademark rights to that term and became known as ,[8] the "father of U.S. naturopathy".[9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturopathy
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