History of Naturopathic Medicine
| Naturopathic medicine was founded on the Ayurvedic, Chinese, Native American, European, and Greek medical traditions. Its original and current purpose is to treat individuals holistically through the understanding and combination of various healthcare system approaches. In the United States, the practice of Naturopathy in its current form began in the early 1900s. Shortly after its conception, the practice spread throughout the nation. Today, there are still numerous Naturopaths throughout Europe and the United States. In 1956, the National College of Natural Medicine was founded, its prosperity confirmed that the "wonder drug" phenomena had begun to dissipate due to the over prescription of many drugs such as antibiotics, and the possible harmful side-effects they imposed. Today, there are six colleges in North America dedicated to the education and advancement of Board Certified Naturopathic physicians. Research on alternative treatments and medications are an active part of the colleges' curriculum. Currently, Naturopathic physicians are licensed to diagnose and treat disease in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, U.S. Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. |