History of Naturopathic Medicine

While the term 'naturopathic medicine' emerged in the late nineteenth century, its philosophical origins trace back thousands of years, drawing wisdom from various healing traditions across cultures including Ayurvedic practices from India, Taoist principles from China, and Hippocratic teachings from Greece. This distinct American healthcare profession is nearly a century old, having taken shape around the turn of the twentieth century. 

At that time, practitioners from diverse medical backgrounds integrated natural therapeutics in unprecedented ways, leading to the formation of the first naturopathic professional medical societies. The 1920s witnessed naturopathic medical conventions attracting over 10,000 practitioners. Earlier in the century, over 20 naturopathic medical colleges existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in a majority of states. 

Naturopathic Medicine faced a decline in the 1940s and 50s due to the rise in popularity of pharmaceutical drugs, technological advancements in medicine, and the belief that drugs could eradicate all diseases. However, in the past few decades, it has experienced a resurgence. This field continues to grow and adapt, incorporating elements of scientific modern medicine that advance knowledge in natural healing mechanisms and therapeutics, particularly in diagnosis, immunology, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and other clinical sciences. As a profession, naturopathic medicine remains committed to ongoing research and development in its field.