Naturopathy
Also known as: Natural Medicine, Nature Cure
From the English compound nature and the Greek suffix -pathy, meaning treatment or suffering; the term was popularized in the late 19th century.
Naturopathy is a system of complementary medicine that emphasizes the body's inherent capacity to heal itself, using tools such as diet, hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, fasting, and lifestyle change rather than pharmaceutical intervention as first-line treatment. It is practiced both as a stand-alone system and alongside conventional medical care.
Naturopathic practice typically rests on a set of guiding principles, including supporting the body's self-healing capacity, treating underlying causes rather than only symptoms, and using the least invasive intervention appropriate to a given condition. Regulation and scope of practice vary widely by country and region, so it is generally recommended as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, care from a licensed physician, particularly for serious or acute conditions.
Modern naturopathy traces to Benedict Lust, who brought European nature cure traditions to the United States in the early 20th century, and today typically combines nutrition counseling, herbal medicine and lifestyle guidance under a shared philosophy that the body has an inherent capacity to heal itself. Licensing and scope of practice vary considerably by country and even by US state, from formally regulated naturopathic doctors with accredited four-year programs to unregulated practitioners, which makes checking a specific practitioner's credentials especially important before relying on their guidance for a health condition.
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Related Terms
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine originating in India over 3,000 years ago, based on the idea that health depends on a dynamic balance between three constitutional energies, or doshas, and that imbalance leads to illness. It combines diet, herbs, lifestyle practices, and detoxification methods.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine developed by Samuel Hahnemann in the late 18th century, based on the principle that highly diluted substances that cause symptoms in a healthy person can treat similar symptoms in an unwell one. Its remedies are diluted to the point that many contain no detectable trace of the original substance.