Naturopathy

general concepts of naturopathy, principles of naturopathy

1. Introduction The word Naturopathy is derived from Latin word Natura means nature and Greek word Pathos means disease. It is a Natural therapy which treats disease.

2. Indian context In India, naturopathy is seen by the Ministry Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani , Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). There is a 5½-year degree in "Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences" (BNYS) degree that was offered by twelve colleges . The National Institute of Naturopathy in Pune that operates under AYUSH, which was established on December 22, 1986 and encourages facilities for standardization and propagation of the existing knowledge and its application through research in naturopathy throughout India.

3. DEFINITIONS Naturopathy is a form of therapy, which excludes medicinal and surgical agents and depend entirely on natural forces such as light, water, air, heat massage etc. (Butter worth medical dictionary) Naturopathy is a system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of natural therapies. ( American Association of Naturopathic Physicians)

4. Naturopathy is the healing power of nature. ( Steven Langley). Our body is made up of five elements i.e , earth water fire air and ether. The imbalance among these is responsible for disease. The treatment of various disease with the help of these five elements is called Naturopathy. (Ancient Indian health science dictionary)

5. It is a holistic system which believes that good health is not the same as the absence of disease and that promoting a general state of wellbeing through dietary principles, lifestyle, exercise and other techniques is an effective way to manage our physiological systems. ( British Naturopathic Association)

6. Naturopathic medicine(Naturopathy) combines the art and knowledge of traditional healing with the diagnostic tools of modern medical science. (www.namastehealthcenter.com)

7. HISTORY Hippocrates, the father of medicine ( 460-357 B.C.) strongly advocated it. The modern methods of nature cure originated in Germany in 1822, when Vincent Priessnitz established the first hydropathic establishment

8. The credit for the name Naturopathy(1895) goes to Dr. Benedict Lust ( 1872 - 1945), and hence he is called the Father of Naturopath. In 1901, Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York. Adlof Just(1959-1936) the author of Return to nature is one of the famous natur o path

9. Father of Naturopath. Dr. Benedict Lust

10. In 1910 the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching published the Flexner Report, which criticized many aspects of medical education, especially quality and lack of scientific rigour. The advent of penicillin and other "miracle drugs" and the consequent popularity of modern medicine also contributed to naturopathy's decline. Now it is a recognized system.

11. Naturopathic Medical Schools In 1956 the National College of Naturopathic Medicine is founded in Portland, Oregon. In 1978 Bastyr University is founded in Seattle, Washington. In 1993 the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences opens in Tempe, Arizona.

12. INDIA The revival of Nature Cure started in India by translation of Louis Kuhnes book "New Science of Healing". Shri Shroti Kishan Swaroop of Bijnor translated this book in Hindi and Urdu languages in about 1904. Shri D. Venkat Chelapati Sharma translated the book in Telugu language in about 1894. This gave a vide propagation to this therapy.

13. Later on, Gandhi was influenced by the book " Return to Nature " written by Adolf Just and become a firm believer of Naturopathy. He not only wrote several articles in favour of Naturopathy in his newspaper " Harijan " but did its several experiments too on himself, on his family members and on the members of Ashram.

14. Due to the influence of Gandhiji several national leaders joined this method of treatment in which the names of Ex. Prime Minister Shri Morarji Desai, Ex. Governor of Gujrat Shri Mannarayanji , Ex. President of India, Shri V. V. Giri .

15. The Great Baths of the Indus Valley civilisation as discovered at Mohen jodaro in old Sind testifies to the use of water for curative purposes in ancient India.

16. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Naturopathy aims at educating people for following healthier way of life and protect themselves against disease by natural methods like mud therapy hydrotherapy etc

17. To attain positive or superior health and maintain the health by means of natural principles. Toxins accumulated in the body are causative factors for acute and chronic disease which can only be cured by means of nature not by medicines. To maintain a positive relation between man and nature

18. Different types of naturopathy treatments Hydrotherapy Mud therapy Fasting Heliotherapy(sun) Chromo therapy(use of colors) Massage Physiotherapy Acupuncture etc

19. Mud therapy

20. Chromo therapy(use of colors)

21. Massage

22. Hydrotherapy

23. Different opinion according to different schools of thought Lui kuhme from Germany was cured by malignant cancer by nature care. He is considered as the father of hydrotherapy, spinal bath, sitz bath, hipbath etc. Adlof just brought an idea about naturalism. He advocated that all human are like animals so there is no need to live artificially.

24. Hippocratus said that Let food be the medicine and medicine be the food. Vincent Priessnitz adopted hot and cod bath as a natural treatment. Johannes Schrooth from Czechoslovakia was Inspired by Vincent Priessnitz and adopted methods like hot and cold bath Mahatama Gandhi adopted fasting as a natural care.

25. Panch Mahabhuta Siddhanta Naturopathy believes in treating the disease by panch Mahabhuta . Our body is made of 5 elements so we can adopt them to treat the body. The disease are caused by faulty habits of person and accumulation of toxins in the body. So these should be eliminated from the body by adopting natural substances

26. Mud therapy Prithvi mahabut Hydrotherapy Jala mahabut Helio /sun therapy Agni mahabut Pranayama Vayu mahabut Fasting Aakash mahabut This is adopted by Indian scholars of nature care

27. Basic Principal of Nature Cure A cute disease is a remedial o n e B ody heals itself. Main C ause of disease is enervation D epo s i t i o n of metabolic end-products in the body is disease. E xercise or physical activity keeps the balance between nutrition and drainage. E xternal treatment whether natural, allopathic, ayurvedic or homeopathic- give only relief, do not cure. F ood is a building material, does not increase vitality, F asting provides an opportunity to the body to heal itself. Patient's own F aith , will to get well & determination are necessary things for nature cure treatment. G erms do no cause the disease but are found in the disease conditions.

28. Principles of Naturopathy Body heals itself Every second that we’re alive, the cells in our bodies are endlessly working to bring us back to a natural state of homeostasis or equilibrium. When we turn to medicines or physical manipulations of our body’s systems to heal us, we are really only facilitating our bodies’ natural ability to heal from within. Therefore healing is a biological process that always originate form within

29. Deposition of metabolic waste is the main cause of disease Deposition of undigested food as a result of improper digestion. EXAMPLE When you smoke cigarettes, many chemicals enter your body through your lungs. Burning tobacco produces more than 4,000 chemicals. Nicotine , carbon monoxide , and tars are some of these substances

30. Food is a building material and do not increase vitality Vitality refers to one‘ ability to live or exist. Food, after all, is a powerless substance to build flesh, blood, bones and nerves. It is this mysterious life force that decides which and how much of foods supplied to the body, shall be built up into body tissues, which suggests that it is the body, not food, which is more important

31. Fasting does not cure disease but helps body to heal itself Defined as complete voluntary abstinence from tang any king of food for particular time in order to gave rest to digestive track. So it is a opportunity to body and GIT to have rest an heal itself.

32. Germs do not cause disease but found in disease conditions Germs are not causative factors of disease. The body has its own defences and if germs enter the healthy body, they are immediately killed or made ineffective by the body. The body has ingenious series of defences. Tonsils act as filter to protect the body from invasion of bacteria and aids in the formation of white blood cells which are body’s defenders.

33. Prevention is the best cure Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease assessing risk factors heredity lifestyle interventions Proper diet etc

34. Exercise or physical activity keeps the balance between nutrition and drainage Life is activity and this activity is essential to build strength. Exercise is essential to development and maintenance of vital structures. Exercise is essential for development and maintenance of vital health.

35. External medication like Allopath, Ayurveda h Homeopathy give only relief but does not cure the disease . Peacefulness and quietness of the mind play an important part in recovery. Mental satisfaction is much more important than external treatment or activity. So they stress on the relaxation exercise, Yoga and Pranayama .

36. Patient’s own will power, determination and faith are necessary for nature cure treatment Acc to naturopathy health comes by healthful living and not through medicines. Feeling of healthiness is health.

37. Naturopathy and Present era In present-time environment, pollution in the cities has reached a dangerous level. Modern life-style and the highly competitive work culture give rise to acute stress, acute tension. Day by day our life has become artificial and at present we are far away from nature. We ignore direction of the nature. Therefore now a days it is rare to find out perfectly healthy person.

38. By Naturopathy we make ourselves healthy and satisfied by living in tune with nature. Other features No use of drugs (ANTBOTICS) No use of surgery Focus on good dietary habits. No side effects Near to nature.