posted on 2010-06-26 by JPerez
Naturopathy was established initially in North America in 1896 by Benedict Lust, who founded the first Naturopathic school called the "Yungborn Health Institute" in New Jersey.

Naturopathy is an occupation based on the concept of: medicatrix vis naturae, "the healing power of nature." It respects the uniqueness and individuality of each person.

The naturopathic doctor works in the construction of a single energy that allows each individual to maintain health, emphasizing prevention and analyzing signs and symptoms of people as indicators of imbalances that can lead to physical or mental illness. The goal of therapy is to address the causes of these imbalances by adjusting lifestyle habits, diet, exercise, preventing the progression and evolution of the same, apart from aggressive treatments after having unpleasant side effects, thereby increasing the healing abilities of each person. Naturopaths around the world work with some or all of the following elements:

1. Native herbs: herbal substances are nourishing and balancing virtues.

2. Flowers of Bach: Bach flowers balance the emotional state

3. Nutrition: Promoting better eating habits according to the needs of each individual

4. Homeopathy: The use of substances in infinitesimal amounts to stimulate self-healing virtues of the body

5. Therapy Traditional Chinese: Chinese massage, Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong, acupressure to balance energy (Chi)

6. Counseling: Creative visualization, concentration techniques of Ayurveda and Qi Gong

Therapies are taught in eastern American universities as a fundamental part of naturopathy and in some cases the energy assessment methodology used is the traditional Chinese medicine. The eastern approach to these doctrines is associated with the growing interest of naturopaths from the energy balance and mental work.

Naturopathy as a discipline that began in the 19th century. Expanded in the United States and acquired its current name at the end of the last century.

Some parents of naturopathy were:

Priessnitz Vincent (1799-1852) Priessnitz was the first to say that the main thing is to treat people and not the disease, working with water treatments (balneotherapy) diet and exercise

Theodor Hahn (1824-1883) Hahn advocated the importance of the naturopath is a teacher of proper living habits to prevent disease, emphasized the importance of the person is an active participant in your therapy and to comply with basic standards of naturopathy.

Arnold Rikli (1823-1906) Rikli, introduced the concept of light and air as part of healing, began physical inactivity in our society and it became necessary to return people to a life more connected with nature.

Father Sebastian Kneipp (1824-1897) Father Kneipp provided the necessary link to join the European nature cure naturopathy with the American, he was a priest and his approach to the healing was complete. One of his phrases was “Getting the balance between work and leisure, stress and relaxation, harmony between the mental, emotional, physical, social, is fundamental to preserving the health.”
Naturopathy in America

Benedict Lust (1872-1945) The naturopathy gave its current name, born in Germany, Lust came to the United States in 1892 to try better luck. On this trip he contracted severe tuberculosis and decided to die at home. There he met Father Kneipp and healed fully. In 1896 the United States again, encouraged by the father of naturopathy Kneipp, began the spread of Naturopathy. Lust was very open minded and was adding new information to the original teaching methods. In 1902, Lust opened the first naturopathic hospital, established the first college and began the publication of the journal naturopathic.

For much of his life, Lust spent much of his time and energy in discussions with the American Medical Association (AMA), who fought him without mercy.

The name is a mixture of natural naturopathy and homeopathy, since that time was widely used by naturopaths. The word literally translates “natural disease.”

Benedict Lust was a man of strong opinions. He opposed the food manufacturing because they destroy the nutritional properties. He opposed the use of narcotic drugs and believed it to be extraneous to the human body. The systematic approach of contemporary medicine requires the elimination of any natural healing method. The new system discourages people from approaching and knowing the natural and traditional methods of Naturopathy that has been passed down from generation to generation.