History of naturopathic medicine

The roots of naturopathic medicine go back thousands of years to the Chinese, Greek, Indian, and European healing traditions. As a distinct American healthcare profession, naturopathic medicine is over 100 years old, tracing its origins to Dr. Benedict Lust. Dr. Lust came to the U.S. in 1896 from Germany to teach the natural healing methods practiced in Europe, and formed the first U.S. naturopathic medical school in 1898.

In the 1920s, Naturopathic medical conventions attracted more than 10,000 naturopathic doctors. There were more than 20 naturopathic medical colleges, and N.D.’s were licensed in a majority of states. Naturopathic medicine experienced a decline in the 1940s with the rise of pharmaceutical drugs and technological medicine. The National College of Naturopathic Medicine was founded in 1956 in Portland, Oregon to keep the profession alive.