What Is Naturopathy?

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In 1929, Congress passed legislation recognizing and defining Naturopathy: “Any system of healing that does not resort to the use of drugs, [conventional] medicine, or operative surgery for the prevention, relief or cure of any disease.” This was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge.

In 1931, Congress clarified the 1929 Naturopathic Licensing Act:

It is further enacted that "Naturopathy," as used in the aforesaid act, approved February 27, 1929, hereafter shall comprehend, embrace, and be composed of the following acts, practices and usages: Diagnosis and practice of physiological, mechanical, and material sciences of healing as follows: The physiological and mechanical sciences such as the mechanotherapy, articular manipulation, corrective and orthopedic gymnastics, neurotherapy, psychotherapy, hydrotherapy, and mineral baths, electrotherapy, thermotherapy, phototherapy, chromotherapy, vibrotherapy, thalamotherapy, and dietetics, which shall include the use of foods of such biochemical tissue-building products and cell salts as are found in the normal body; and the use of vegetal oils and dehydrated and pulverized fruits, flowers; seeds, barks, herbs, roots, and vegetables uncompounded and used in their natural state.

The Dictionary of Occupational Titles also defines the Naturopathic Doctor:

[the naturopathic doctor] Diagnoses, treats, and cares for patients using a system of practice that bases treatment of physiological functions and abnormal conditions on natural laws governing human body: Utilizes physiological, psychological, and mechanical methods, such as air, water, light, heat, earth phytotherapy, food and herb therapy, psychotherapy, electrotherapy, physiotherapy, minor and orificial surgery, mechanotherapy, naturopathic corrections, and manipulation, and natural methods or modalities, together with natural medicines, natural processed foods and herbs, and nature’s remedies. Excludes major surgery, therapeutic use of x-ray and radium, and the use of drugs, except those assimilable substances containing elements or compounds of body tissues and are physiologically compatible to body processes for maintenance of life.