Naturopathy Around the World

Whereas various professionalised heterodox medical systems found in Western societies, such as homeopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, Chinese traditional medicine, and even acupuncture have been the object of considerable historical and social scientific research, naturopathy has been, at best, spotty. This book constitutes the first effort to provide a broad social historical and ethonographic account, particularly in the United States, Canada, and Australia, but to a lesser extent in Germany, Britian, New Zealand and India. Naturopathy emerged in the early twentieth century under the leadership of Benedict Lust, a German immigrant to the United States who had studied under Father Kneipp (a strong proponent of water cure), as a highly eclectic therapeautic system that drew not only from hydropathy, but also herbalism, colonic irrigation, dietetics, fasting, exercise, iridology, and manipulative therapy. While some naturopaths advocate these modalities, others today draw upon homeopathy, vitamin and nutritional supplements, acupuncture, Ayurveda, and other therapies. Naturopaths or naturopathic physicians are the ultimate therapeutic eclectics within the broader confines of complementary and alternative medicine. Yet naturopathy is not a monolithic entity but has been shaped by historical developments in the larger plural medical systems and national sociopolitical contexts in which it is embedded. Like other medical systems, naturopathy is a cultural construction with fluid borders within specific countries across the globe.