In alternative medicine, natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies concerned with building and restoring health and wellness via prevention and healthy lifestyles. Natural health includes diet, exercise, naturopathy, herbalism, natural hygiene, homeopathy, massage therapy, relaxation techniques (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi), accupuncture, sauna, aromatherapy, ayurveda medicine, and Kneipp therapy. Alternative medicine has been described as any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula taught in the United States and Britain.[1] Alternative medicine practices are often based in belief systems not derived from modern science. ... Wellness is generally used to mean a healthy balance of the mind-body and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being. ... In nutrition, the diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. ... The term Exercise can refer to: Physical exercise such as running or strength training Exercise (options), the financial term for enacting and terminating a contract Category: ... Naturopathic medicine is the practice of assisting in the health of patients through the application of natural remedies. ... Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ... Natural Hygiene is a branch of alternative medicine that claims that the human body can and will heal itself if the causes of disease are removed. ... Homeopathy starring at the horrors of Allopathy by Alexander Beydeman, 1857 Homeopathy (also spelled homœopathy or homoeopathy), from the Greek words όμοιος, hómoios (similar) and πάθος, páthos (suffering, disease),[1] is a highly controversial type of alternative medicine that aims to treat like with like. ... In alternative medicine, body work or massage therapy refers to any treatment which involves some form of touching or physical manipulation. ... Relaxation techniques are used by people who wish to relax, for a wide variety of reasons. ... For other uses, see Yoga (disambiguation). ... Tai chi chuan (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: tàijíquán; Wade-Giles: tai4 chi2 chüan2) is an internal Chinese martial art often practiced with the aim of promoting health and longevity. ... It has been suggested that Acupuncturist be merged into this article or section. ... For the music festival in Finland, see Sauna Open Air Metal Festival. ... It has been suggested that Aromatherapy Candles be merged into this article or section. ... Shirodhara, one of the techniques of Ayurveda Ayurveda (Devanagari: ) or Ayurvedic medicine is a practice in use primarily in the Indian subcontinent, which advocates argue assists with health and healing. ... Sebastian Kneipp Sebastian Kneipp (May 17, 1821, Stephansried, Germany – June 17, 1897 in Wörishofen) was a Bavarian priest and one of the founders of the Naturopathic medicine movement. ...

History of Natural Health

Although the term natural health did not become part of common usage until the late 20th century, many of its core beliefs developed in Europe-- where natural therapy is rather common and covered by mainstream health insurance companies -- and were brought over to the New World. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Frontispiece of Peter Martyr dAnghieras De orbe novo (On the New World). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, 1722. ...

New World

Medical self-care was often the only health care available, and until the 1750s, most folk healers in the United States had little medical education beyond apprenticeships. Scientific navigation is developed The Seven Years War (1756-1763) fought between two rival alliances: the first consisting of the Kingdom of Great Britain, Hanover, and Prussia; the second consisting of Austria, France, Imperial Russia, Saxony, and Sweden. ...

Around the time of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the practice of medicine was seen as more of a part-time avocation. Women and male lay practitioners took care of most medical matters including births, injuries, and illness through the use of folk medical practices. Of course, these natural healing practices varied from locality to locality with major cities, like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City having hospitals and other medical practices approaching those found in Europe. The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ... Year 1775 (MDCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1783 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... For the town in the Republic of Ireland, see Hospital, County Limerick. ...

The Popular Health Movement (1830 - 1840)

In the 1830s the Popular Health Movement was started by a number of different reformers and activists, such as Frances Wright, dissatisfied with the practice of heroic medicine by the contemporary physicians of that time period. These activists sought to alter these heroic medical practices by incorporating and emphasizing some of the ideas that midwives and lay practitioners had long used to heal the sick. This was the period of Jacksonian democracy where self-sufficiency was prized. "For success in this frontier environment of growing America, the specialized skills - of lawyer, doctor, financier, or engineer - had a new unimportance" (Boorstin 1965). Frances Wright (1795-1852) was a lecturer who grew up in London and toured the United States from 1818 to 1820. ... Heroic medicine is a term for aggressive medical practices or methods of treatment, and usually refers to those which were later superseded by scientific advances. ... Midwifery is a blanket term used to describe a number of different types of health practitioners, other than doctors, who provide prenatal care to expecting mothers, attend the birth of the infant and provide postnatal care to the mother and infant. ... Jacksonian democracy refers to the political philosophy of United States President Andrew Jackson and his followers in the new Democratic Party. ... A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary, or of a different nature. ...

From the Popular Health Movement several natural health movements developed.

• Hydrotherapy
• Herbalism from Thomsonianism of Samuel Thompson.
• Eclectic Medicine, founded by Dr. Wooster Beech.
• Natural Hygiene from the Orthopathy of Isaac Jennings, MD and Sylvester Graham.

"The peak of the Popular Health Movement (in America) coincided with the beginnings of an organised feminist movement, and the two were so closely linked that it is hard to tell where one began and the other left off" ( Ehrenreich & English 1973). For hydrotherapy in dogs, see Canine hydrotherapy. ... Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ... This article is about the herbalist. ... Samuel Thomson (9 February 1769 - 5 October 1843) was the founder of the Thomsonian System of medicine. ... The term eclectic applies to a branch of medicine which makes use of herbal remedies. ... Natural Hygiene is a branch of alternative medicine that claims that the human body can and will heal itself if the causes of disease are removed. ... Sylvester Graham (1794-1851) Sylvester Graham (July 5, 1794 – September 11, 1851) was born in Suffield, Connecticut, and was ordained in 1826 as a Presbyterian minister. ...

Between 1820-1845, Samuel Thompson (1769-1843) founded Thomsonianism, an early approach to modern Western herbalism. In 1823, The Association of Eclectic Physicians an organization of herbal doctors was founded by Dr. Wooster Beech. At its peak, eclecticism claimed more than 20,000 qualified practitioners in the United States. Eclectic medicine officially ended in 1939 due to a lack of support of its medical schools by philanthropists. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Hydrotherapy of Hydropathy, was an early nineteenth-century medical sect, which entailed various applications of cold water and zealously advocated the reformation of such personal habits as diet, dress, clean water and air, exercise, sunshine, and herbs. In Europe, interest in the hydrotherapy can be traced back to the ancient Roman spas and the hot mineral springs at Bath, England. The importance of the water-cure movement was over shadowed by allopathy, which viewed hydropathy as quackery largely because of its close association with female social activists of the time period, such as Frances Wright (Sheryl et al. 1987). Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, is probably the oldest form of medical treatment. ... Roman Bath The Great Bath — the entire structure above the level of the pillar bases is a later reconstruction. ... For alternate meanings see Bath (disambiguation) Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in south-west England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ... Advocates of homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine often use the term allopathy or allopathic medicine to refer to mainstream, Western medicine. ... Pietro Longhi: The Charlatan, 1757 Quackery is a derogatory term used to describe questionable medical practices. ... Frances Wright (1795-1852) was a lecturer who grew up in London and toured the United States from 1818 to 1820. ...

In 1844, founder of Natural Hygiene, Dr. Joel Shew introduces the European system of Hydrotherapy to the United States. He later adopts the Hygieo-Therapy dietary and exercise plan, as well as its emphasis on fresh air and sunlight. In 1853, he founds the New York College of Hygieo-Therapy. In 1927, Herbert Shelton (1895-1985) of the Natural Hygiene movement was jailed for the first time for practicing medicine without a license. In 1939, Shelton's Hygienic Review magazine was published. Then in 1948, The American Natural Hygiene Society was founded. Herbert M. Shelton (b. ...

Antebellum America

In 1860, Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894), U.S. author and physician, famously promoted the healing power of nature in a widely known annual address voicing therapeutic nihilism when he said "that if the whole materia medica, as now used, could be sunk to the bottom of the sea, it would be so much the better for mankind – and all the worse for the fishes" (Warner 1986). Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Materia medica is a Latin term for any material or substance used in the composition of curative agents in medicine. ...

Progressive Era of Health Care Reform (1890-1920)

The natural health movement of Naturopathy developed during Progressive Era of Health Care Reform. In 1895, founder of Naturopathy, Benedict Lust opened the Kneipp Water-Cure Institute in New York City. In 1902, he purchased the rights to the term "naturopathy" from John H. Scheel, who had coined it in 1895. The American Institute of Naturopathy opened in 1902. Henry Lindlahr, MD wrote in his Nature Cure: Philosophy & Practice Based on the Unity of Disease & Cure about the very Western concepts of fresh air, a natural diet, water treatment with cold baths, physical culture and the importance of maintaining the right mental and emotional attitude. But, said nothing about the modern notion of stress (See Lindlahr 1922). Naturopathic medicine is the practice of assisting in the health of patients through the application of natural remedies. ... In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. ...

The Modern Period

By the end of the 20th century the following forms of natural health were well established as a part of American culture: health food grocery stores, natural health web sites, self-care health books, and Vitamin & Nutritional SupplementVitamin & Nutritional Supplement dealers. A health food store is a type of grocery store that primarily sells natural or organic foods, and often nutritional supplements. ... A dietary supplement is intended to supply nutrients, (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids) that are missing or not consumed in sufficient quantity in a persons diet. ...

Basic Core Tenets

This section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

The ideologies of natural health hold that all health, illness, and healing can be positively affected by prevention and lifestyle modifications. These natural therapies are under the control of the individual. Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Political Ideologies Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ... Natural therapy is the treatment method used by advocates of natural health, which is a form of alternative medicine. ...

The greatest [1]healing therapy is friendship and love.

Alternative and natural treatments have gained popularity and serve as a complement to traditional therapies. Some treatments get little respect regarding their efficacy, compounded by warnings for potential drug interactions and side effects.

Natural philosophy

The word 'natural' in natural health is refers to the physical and mental realms of existence.

Natural health, however, excludes all belief systems that say disease is a result of anything other than natural causes. Natural heath is an integrated approach to health that considers the persons social, and environmental surroundings, in their relationship to the condition of the mind and body and a whole.

Natural health, is not a religion (the practices are too diverse to lump them into one hat), and has nothing to say about the creation of life, beliefs in religion, and other worlds or dimensions other than that all health, illness, and healing can be positively affected by simple and inexpensive natural therapies. Nor, does this imply that the role of your mind should be ignored in health, illness, and healing due to its tenet of holism.

Natural therapy is the treatment method used by advocates of natural health, which is a form of alternative medicine. ...

Vitalism

The most fundamental tenet of the natural health philosophy is that the human body has the capacity to heal itself.

In natural health, all healing is essentially self-healing, a basic property of all living beings. Vitalism is an ancient concept that can be traced back to the body's own innate vitality, vital energy, vital force, or the 'vis medicatrix naturae' (i.e., the inherent wisdom of the body) of Hippocrates (c.460-377BC), the father of medicine, who wrote that "the natural healing force within us is the greatest force in getting well."

A physician can kill an infection with antibiotics, perform surgery, put a broken limb in a cast, or suture a wound, but if the patient does not respond to the treatment, all the efforts of the physician have been useless since all healing is performed by the patient.

In natural health the self-healing of vitalism is paramount. The inherent natural healing process is respected and sought after during treatment, although it is not necessarily understood.

Vitalism is the doctrine that vital forces are active in living organisms, so that life cannot be explained solely by mechanism. ... For other uses, see Hippocrates (disambiguation). ...

Holism

In natural health, healing is viewed as a concerted effort of the entire organism and cannot be achieved by any part in isolation from the whole.

Holism is an old concept that can be traced back to Paracelsus (1439-1541), the father of modern medicine, who insisted on treating the whole being rather than merely the part displaying disease.

Respecting and understanding the defensive abilities of the body and differentiating between disease symptoms and defensive or recovery symptoms has always been an absolutely fundamental part of the various forms of holistic based natural health practices.

Under holism, sickness is viewed as a result of a weakened body that has fallen into an unbalanced condition. As such, it is remedied by overall strengthening of the body’s natural resistance to disease.

Holism is an ancient concept that only hints at the modern concept of the mind-body connection. The core tenets of all natural health practices refers only to the very Western biological factors of health. Hence, the more fully developed psychosocial treatments are a modern extension added to some practices of natural health from the biopsychosocial model of health.

Whole redirects here. ... Presumed portrait of Paracelsus, attributed to the school of Quentin Matsys. ... Occident redirects here. ... please be mindful of the scientific process - if you are going to edit, hold you bias in check and provide citations! The biopsychosocial model is a general model that posits that biological, psychological (which entails thoughts, emotions, and behaviors) and social factors (abbreviated BPS) all play a significant role in...

Individualism

According to individualistic ideology, individuals are capable of accepting responsibility for their personal health and taking care of themselves.

The individualistic ideology of Western society is about: (1) the primary importance of the individual over the needs and concerns of the community, and (2) the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence. True individuals are both self-reliant and independent. Individuals are assumed to have the power to make changes in their own lifestyles.

Occident redirects here. ...

Victim-blaming

The victim-blaming approach to natural health follows the individualistic ideology of Western society (which is strongly rooted in the development of Protestantism, the work ethic, and American history). Occident redirects here. ... Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. ... Pre-Colonial America For details, see the main Pre-Colonial America article. ...

Victim-blaming requires individuals to take responsibility for their health. To improve their prospects in life, the victim must change rather than the environment around them. According to the ideology of victim-blaming, health problems should be self-corrected. At-risk behavior is seen as the problem, and improving one's lifestyle is viewed as the solution.

When a person gets sick, the assumption is that the victim must have done something wrong. When the victim comes down with a lifestyle disease, the assumption is that the victim must have been doing something wrong for a very long time.

The basic notion of a healthy lifestyle requires the ideologies of individualism and victim-blaming, without consideration of socioeconomic or environmental factors involved in individual lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle diseases (also called diseases of longevity or diseases of civilization) are diseases that appear to increase in frequency as countries become more industrialized and people live longer. ...

Prevention

Prevention emphasizes improving health rather than fighting disease.

Primary prevention is focused on intervention to prevent the occurrence of an illness, condition, or injury. Secondary prevention activities are concerned with early detection and interventions into disease processes that potentially could develop into a serious disease. Tertiary prevention is focused on treatment of an illness to reduce its effects and to prevent further deterioration.

Natural health lifestyle choices are viewed as factors that affect our health. Hence, prevention is considered to be everyone's responsibility.

References

1. Andrew Weil, M.D. Natural Health, Natural Medicine: A Comprehensive Manual for Wellness and Self-Care. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1998.
2. Boorstin DJ. The Americans: The National Experience. New York: Vintage Books, 1965: 115-23.
3. "The Canoe version of A Dictionary of Alternative-Medicine Methods, by Priorities for Health editor Jack Raso, is the most comprehensive work on individual alt-med methods that has ever been available to the public."
   1. "alternative medicine (..., natural healing, natural health, natural medicine, ...)"
4. Ehrenreich, Barbara and English, Deirdre, Witches Midwives and Nurses: A History of Women Healers, Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative 1973.
5. John H Warner, The Therapeutic Perspective: Medical Practice, Knowledge and Identity in America, 1828-1885, Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1986, pages 28, 33.
6. Sheryl Ruzek and Irving Kenneth Zola eds., Wash and Be Healed: The Water-Cure Movement, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1987.
7. Henry Lindlahr, MD; Nature Cure: Philosophy & Practice Based on the Unity of Disease & Cure, 20th Edition, The Nature Cure Publishing Company, 525 South Ashland Boulevard, Chicago, 1922.

External links

• Dietary Guidelines (USDA)
• Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (Health Canada)
• Nutrition (UK Food Standards Agency)
• PowerOfPrevention/ The Power of Prevention (CDC)
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH)
• Guide to Natural Health WikiBook