Naturopathy

NATUROPATHY

Naturopathy Defined in Full:  "Naturopathy" in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (8th Edition) is defined as:

A system of therapy that relies exclusively on natural remedies such as sunlight, supplemented with diet and massage to treat the sick.

Funk & Wagnalls New International Dictionary of the English Language (Comprehensive 1971 Edition) defines it as:  A system of therapy which avoids drugs in favor of such physical                         agencies as air, sunshine, water, exercise, etc.  Wellllll, that "etc." covers a very big                         territory, and the fact that "Nutrition" and "Bio-Chemistry" were left out of every dictionary definition researched (over a dozen), shows that a better, general understanding of the subject is in order.

According to Webster's, the word Naturopathy comes from the three root words, "NATURE", "O" and "PATHY".  The origin of "NATURE" traces back to the Latin word "NATUS" which means "Birth or, Cause".  "O" as an Old English preposition is an abbreviated form of the word "Of", while "PATHY" comes from the Greek word "PATHOS" meaning "suffering or, Disease".  This is absolutely wonderful, for at least a "working definition" can now be put forth as follows:  Naturopathy:  A Subject that addresses the Cause Of Disease.  In no way does this definition give a complete description of what Naturopathy is, but it completely describes what Naturopathy does, and from this starting point, a thorough and accurate definition can now be created and agreed upon.

A debate might rage forever as to whether or not Naturopathy is a science or an art, and while there are those practitioners who approach their work with the accuracy of a chemical scientist or a nuclear physicist, there are therapists who have taken their particular specialty far beyond the physical, and have literally created a spiritual art-form out of their chosen field.  The Masseuse who with mysterious precision can pinpoint with a finger that exact spot which blows an illness; the Herbalist with his dropperful of a special potent herbal preparation that gets rid of a long time persisting condition in a few days; the Dianeticist with his knowledge of the mind, and his ability to listen who then helps a person recover from the effects of a psychosomatic illness, the experienced Nutritionist who by careful questioning isolates that one missing nutrient that when added back into the diet brings about a state of health, are all artists in their respective fields.  For the sake of harmony, both words will be used in the definition.  In using the words "Nature" and "Natural", it must be obvious that procedures such as surgery, and synthetic drug therapies as used by the Psychiatrist and the Medical Doctor have no place in Naturopathy or in its definition.  In refining the meaning, only those things having to do with Nature or the natural order of things (Spiritual, Mental, and Physical) will be used.  This must include, but is not limited to:  Nutrition, Bio-Chemistry (chemicals from life forms such as Herbs, Homeopathic remedies, Vitamins, Enzymes and Amino Acids), Exercise, Sunlight, Clean Air, Pure Water, Massage, Hydrotherapy (hot & cold water), a workable Mental Therapy and Lifestyle, and the study of the imbalances occasioned by a deficiency or over abundance found in any one of the above.

A complete definition can now be created as follows:

Naturopathy:  The Science or Art of treating disease by addressing the CAUSE, using Nutrition, Bio-Chemistry, Exercise, Sunlight, Clean Air, Pure Water, Massage, Hydrotherapy (Hot and Cold water), Confront of Difficulties (includes Spiritual, Mental and Physical difficulties), Lifestyle, and correcting any imbalances found.  

Existing Sciences that are Naturopathic

Acupuncture; Acupressure, Chiropractic; Dianetics; Massage; Homeopathy; Herbalism; Nutrition; and Vitamin and Mineral Therapy.  

It has been observed by teachers and healers beyond count that correction of these imbalances will bring about a state whereby the body will then correct itself automatically, and move towards excellent health. One thing is for certain.  By addressing the "CAUSE OF DISEASE", Naturopathy as a science is senior to, and more effective than Conventional Medicine that handles almost exclusively the symptoms of disease by using drugs and surgery.

Now is the time for the Medical, Psychiatric, Big Pharma Empire to come tumbling down.  It is the age when Naturopathy must come into its own, not by some bloody revolution, but by the natural evolution of the way things should be.