Naturopathic medicine draws on the wisdom of many cultures, including the teachings of Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, the wisdom of Hippocrates and other traditional systems of medicine. Around the turn of the 20th century (=1900’s) naturopathy flourished with over 10,000 naturopathic physicians and more than 20 naturopathic colleges.
As Americans became more science-centered in the mid 1900’s, the traditional methods of botanical medicine and healing through nutrition fell by the wayside. While modern medicine evolved to rely heavily on pharmaceutical and surgical techniques, the older practices of encouraging the healing wisdom of Nature continued to demonstrate success in long term prevention of illness and recovery of health.
The profession is enjoying the growing appreciation of a medicine that works through encouraging the healing force of the body. Rather than entraining dependence on expensive prescriptions, naturopathic medicine seeks to encourage patients' inner knowledge about their own best care and to remind patients of the language of the body so they can improve their own health through responsible choices.