Naturopathy, sometimes referred to as "natural medicine," is a largely pseudoscientific approach said to "assist nature" [1], "support the body's own innate capacity to achieve optimal health" [2], and "facilitate the body's inherent healing mechanisms." [3] Naturopaths assert that diseases are the body's effort to purify itself, and that cures result from increasing the patient's "vital force." They claim to stimulate the body's natural healing processes by ridding it of waste products and "toxins." At first glance, this approach may appear sensible. However, a close look will show that naturopathy's philosophy is simplistic and that its practices are riddled with quackery.

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

 

Some Definations of Naturopathy

Naturopathy . . . is the technique of treatment of human disease which emphasizes assisting nature. It can embrace minor surgery and the use of nature's agencies, forces, processes, and products, introducing them to the human body by any means that will produce health-yielding results.

Naturopathy is based upon the tendency of the body to maintain a balance and to heal itself. The purpose of naturopathic medicine is to further this process by using natural remedies . . . as distinct from "orthodox" medicine (allopathy and osteopathy), which seeks to combat disease by using remedies which are chosen to destroy the causative agent or which produce effects different from those produced by the disease treated. . . .

Naturopathy places priority upon these conditions as the bases for ill health: (1) lowered vitality; (2) abnormal composition of blood and lymph; (3) maladjustment of muscles, ligaments, bones, and neurotropic disturbances; (4) accumulation of waste matter and poison in the system; (5) germs, bacteria, and parasites which invade the body and flourish because of toxic states which may provide optimum conditions for their flourishing; and (6) consideration of hereditary influences, and (7) psychological disturbances.

Water and Health Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital The Sun-bath Habit When to Give Sun-baths to Children TerminatingTonic Bath or Children Cave in Sun-bathing Children Sunlight for the pregnant woman	Exercise as a corrective Measure Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Frequency of Treatment Order of general Treatment Suitable Table Important Fitting Treatment to Condition Corrective Movements for the Foot
Miscellaneous Treatments and Health Factors Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Types of Pain Relieved by Zone-therapy Zone-therapy Appliances for Relieving Pain Pressure as a Means of Deadening Pain Theory of Zone-therapy Vibration of General Benefit	Sun Treatment by Artificial Means Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Radio-Active Properties Radium Emanation, or radon Radium Capable of Causing Irreparable Damage Convenience of Radium Therapy Radium
Electric Treatments for Ill health Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Electrotherapy Not Child’s Play Uses of Sinusoidal Current The Sinusoidal Current The Counterirritant Effects The Stimulative Treatment	What the physical Examination Reveals Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Basal Metabolism Test Standards of Metabolism Apparatus for Basal Metabolism Determination Basal Metabolism Measurement Forms of Sputum
First aid in Accidents and Disease Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Caution vs. Injury Good Health an Aid in Injury Human bites Use of the Tourniquet Snake-bites	Modern Methods of Healing Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Avoidance of Chronic Disease Health in Children Experiments In Health Elimination Minor Ailments
Nursing and Care of the Sick Indian Naturopathy, Naturopathy in India, Naturopathy Hospital India Naturopathy Treatment India, India Naturopathy Hospital Hippocrates’ Theory of Rnbbing Good Games for One or two Persons Walks and Drives for the Patient Con’ts in Kursing Do’s in Nursing

Treatment of diseases