Naturopathy is not of recent origin. It can be said to have originated 2500 years ago, at the time of Hippocrates. People regard Hippocrates as the father of modern medical science. This is misconception. As a matter of fact, he owes his fame primarily to his advocacy of methods of healing based on the laws of Nature. Physic means Nature. It is from this Greek word that the term physician has been derived. He was the first to study the process of what has been described as ‘healing crisis’, the process that is the backbone of the Nature Cure system. It is this process that is described by Drug Therapists as the ‘acute’ state of a disease.
But the movement for the promotion of modern Naturopathy got under way some 150 years ago. The credit form this goes to Dr. Vincenz Priesnitz. He established a sanatorium at Grafernburg in Germany. Priesnitz himself suffered from ill-health, carried out investigations on the healing powers of cold water. Having regained his health by the use of cold baths, he went on to treat numerous patients successfully by hydrotherapy.
Priesntiz’s successes with hydrotherapy spread his fame far and wide. People from far off places began to flock to him. His sanatorium became a place of pilgrimage for ardent devotees of health. His golden success was a thorn in the side of the practitioners of traditional systems of medicine. Like all innovators, Priesnitz had to face vigorous opposition from the conservative sections of society, which pelted his with libels, ridicule and abuses, and invoked the sanctions of the law against his. But truth triumphed in the end. This vicious persecution, and his success in overcoming it, served only to add to his prestige and reputation. Thus his opponents themselves became instrumental in spreading his fame.
His experiences had led Dr. Priesnitz to the firm belief that the cause of disease lies solely in the accumulation of poisons in the body as a result of a wrong way of life. If the natural defences of the body are strengthened, disease disappears spontaneously. In his opinion, diseases do not come into existence overnight, but are the results of gradual accumulation of toxic substances in the body over long periods of time. The process or healing, as a consequence, must inevitably be somewhat slow. It is necessary to continue treatment with diligence and patience. A plaque bearing the legend “YOU WILL HAVE TO BE PATIENT”, placed near the entrance of Dr. Priesnitz’s sanatorium, was intended to convey this truth. Dr. Priesnitz’s views remain unchallenged even today.
Around that time an Austrian physician, Dr. Johannes Schroth, established another sanatorium in Liendweiz, a village in Czechoslovakia. Initially, he used to treat dogs, horses and cattle. Success in treating them encouraged him to undertake treatment of humans too. His fame began to spread with each success in treatment. But jealousy reared its ugly head once again, Subjecting Dr. Schroth to the same harassment and persecution that Dr. Priesnitz had suffered. Contemporary doctors left no stone unturned in opposing him. Dr. Schroth struggled against hatred and insults for twenty years, and even suffered imprisonment. But his fortunes took a turn for the better in 1846, as a result of a singular occurrence.
The Duke of Wintumburg was injured in the leg. The wound, deemed trivial at the time, soon assumed a dangerous aspect. Treatment by prominent doctors proved of no avail, and the Duke was ultimately advised to have the leg amputated, failing which, the doctors feared, the life of the Duke would be endangered. The Duke trembled at the very thought of living for the rest of his life as a cripple. The conviction that death could be no worse than a life or dependence brought him to Johannes Schroth’s door, as a last resort. Schroth comforted him and began treatment. In a few months, the Duke recovered completely.
This event caused a sensation in the whole country Schroth’s critics were silenced. The Duke published an account of his treatment in a booklet, which was distributed to people. Schrotn’s system of healing came to be recognized as valid by a large number of doctors, and some of them embarked on a study of the system. There still were some critics of the system, but their criticism had lost its sting. While Priesnitz had demonstrated the therapeutic value of cold water, Schroth gave pride of place to treatment with hot and cold compresses, and fomentation. He also stressed the importance of dietetics.
Sometime later, Father Sebastian Kneipp of Baveria (in Germany) attained fame as a healer. He was not only a Naturopath, but also a teacher and a social worker. He ran a sanatorium based on hydrotherapy for more than forty-five years, and attained exemplary success in curing all types of diseases. His book on hydrotherapy, ‘My Water Cure’, S studied with interest even today. His specialty was the use of water at different temperatures for different illnesses.
Among the outstanding healers of the last century was Dr. Arnold Rickley. He established the importance of air and sunlight in addition to water and diet, and he believed constipation to be the root of all disorders, and gave top priority to its treatment. He himself was a strict vegetarian. Despite a childhood ridden with various ailments, the robust health he gained and maintained in his later life made him a living proof of the efficacy of Nature Cure. He attained the ripe old age of 97 years.
The contribution of Dr. Heinrich Lahmann of Germany to the development of Nature Cure is also of considerable importance. In his clinic in Dresden, treatment was based mainly on diet. Dietetics will remain indebted to him for his investigations in various areas like the quality and composition of diet that was required for maintenance of health, the deleterious effects of salt, and the havoc caused by addiction to intoxicants like alcohol.
Probably, the greatest exponent of Nature Cure was the German physician Dr. Louis Kuhne. At the comparatively tender age of twenty, his health had been completely ruined. After years of trying various medicines without success, he turned to Nature Cure as a drowning man clutches at a straw Speedy and almost miraculous recovery made him an ardent supporter of Nature Cure. He studied Naturopathy, and established a health resort at Leipzig in 1886. His methods of treatment included sun-baths, steam-baths, hip-baths, etc,
According to Kuhne, cleanliness of the body and purity of the blood were the only answers to diseases. He was the discoverer of the system of diagnosis based on the examination of the face and the neck. His books, The New Science of Healing’ and The Science of Facial Expression’, brought him universal recognition. The former book has been translated into nearly all the languages of the world. Louis Kuhne held that “All diseases originate in the accumulation of poisons in the body; all diseases are fundamentally the same.” This principle has come to be accepted as the cornerstone of modern Naturopathy.
Another German adherent of Nature Cure, Dr. Adolf Just, is also considered an eminent Naturopath. He established health home, Jungban, in the Herz Mountains, and he discovered the method of healing with the help of clay, or mud. He was a firm believer in living in complete harmony with Nature. His book ‘Return to Nature’ became immensely popular. He proved that, by following the ancient natural life-style of mankind, and rejecting all artificial appurtenances of the supposedly civilized modern life, it is possible for one to regenerate and rejuvenate oneself. He was a staunch opponent of vaccination.
America also has made great contributions to the development of Naturopathy. In America the movement was led by Dr. James C. Jackson. At the age of 35 he became the victim of a serious disorder, which was declared to be incurable by physicians. After trying all sorts of remedies, with disappointing results, he turned to Dr. Silas Gleason, a disciple of Dr. Vincenz Priesnitz. Once more Nature Cure treatment demonstrated its superiority, and yielded gratifying results. Now Jackson was no longer merely a patient of Dr. Gleason, but joined him as his co-worker. At the same time he secured admission to the medical college there, eventually taking his degree in medicine and obtaining a license to practice as a physician.
He then set up the Jackson Sanatorium in Dansville, New York. He dispensed with the use of medicines, preferring to heal by Nature Cure methods, including hydrotherapy, systematic exercises, diet, psychological rehabilitation, rest, etc.
Another American exponent of Nature Cure to achieve eminence was Dr. Russell Trall. Despite his training In traditional therapeutics in a medical college, he resorted to Nature Cure methods in his later life. He founded the Hygienic Therapeutic College at Florence, New York. He authored numerous works on Naturism and Naturopathy.
Equally eminent as a Naturopath is Dr. J. H. Kellogg, the Director of the world-famous ‘Battle Creek sanatorium, Michigan State, U.S.A. Dr. Kellogg, an ardent supporter of hydropath, sun-bathing, physiotherapy, etc., has written a number of books on these subjects.
Dr. Henry Lindlahr is another American Naturopath of renown. He exerted a decisive influence on the philosophy and methods of the Nature Cure System. He put forward the principle that every acute disease was merely the sign of, or the manifestation of, the healing powers of Nature. This principle has become one of the basic tenets of the Nature Cure therapeutic system. He did exemplary work in correlating the various aspects of Naturopathy and perfecting it as a unified scientific system. He was a firm believer in Iridiagnosis. Two of his books, Iridiagnosis’ and The Philosophy and Practice of Natural Therapeutics have become widely known as authoritative works. Before adopting Nature Cure, he was a practitioner of Allopathy.
But he realized the futility of traditional medicine during the course of the treatment of one of his own ailments. This gave a new turn to his life. He discarded all medicines, and all remedies relying on medicines. Initially he resorted to Nature Cure methods for the treatment of his own ailment, and then went on to achieve fame as a great Naturopath.
Perhaps the greatest exponent of Nature Cure in the United States was Dr. J. H. Tilden. He established that, if one gives up. Harmful habits and erroneous ways of life, and adopts a proper life-style, good health is the inevitable result. Mend your habits, and cure follows. He was a great thinker and a distinguished author. ‘Impaired Health’ is his most well-known work.
Dr. Bernarr McFadden, a highly competent and popular exponent of Nature Cure, achieved great eminence, his fame spreading to the ends of the earth. He was an enthusiastic proponent of fasting, milk (lacto-) therapy and physical culture. His great work, The Encyclopedia of Health’, is the most comprehensive reference book in this field, in which every aspect of Nature Cure is discussed authoritatively, and in depth.
No History of Naturopathy would be complete without the mention of Dr. Benedict Lust, a disciple of Father Kneipp, and a staunch proponent of Juice Therapy.
Dewey, Dr. McCane (the famous dietician), Dr. Still (the father of Osteopathy), Dr. Daniel Palmer (the originator of the Chiropractic System) also must receive honorable mention. Others like Dr. Bilz, Dr. Otto Jutner, Dr. Wigmore, etc. have worked hard to popularize Nature Cure.
In India, too, great contributions to this system have been made by some mighty proponents. Among them are Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Morarji Desai, Dr. Dinshaw Mehta, Dr. Lakshman Sharma, Dr. Janaki Sharan Varma, Dr. Kul Ranjan Mukherjee, Dr. Vitthaldas Modi, Dr. J. M. Jassawala, Dr. M. M. Bhamagara, Dr. S. J. Singh, Dr. Ramanlal Engineer, Dr. Krishna Varma, Dr. Shankarbhai Dave and Dr. Bhupatray Dave.
Magneto therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Yoga Therapy, Chromo therapy and other similar systems can be considered to be the parts of the Nature Cure System of therapeutics. It can be confidently asserted that because of the co-ordination and incorporation of all these system, Nature Cure today has become capable of achieving quicker and lasting cures.
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