Naturopathy -
Naturopathy
is an art and science of healthy living and a drugless system of
healing based on well founded philosophy. It has its own concept of
health and disease and also principle of treatment. Naturopathy is a
very old science. We can find a number of references in our Vedas and
other ancient texts. The morbid matter theory, concept of vital force
and other concepts upon which Naturopathy is based are already available
in old texts. The revival of Naturopathy started in India by
translation of Germany’s Louis Kuhne’s book “New Science of Healing”.
Shri D. Venkat Chelapati Sharma translated this book in Telgu language
in 1894. Shri Shroti Kishan Swaroop of Bijnor translated this book into
Hindi and Urdu languages in 1904. All this gave a wide propagation to this system.
Gandhiji
was influenced by the book Return to Nature written by Adolf Just and
become a firm believer of Naturopathy. He not only wrote several
articles in favour of Naturopathy in his newspaper Harijan but did its
several experiments on himself too, on his family members and members of
his Ashram. It may be noted here that Gandhiji used to stay at the
Nature Cure Clinic of Dr. Dinshaw Mehta situated in Pune during 1934 to
1944. In his memory, the Government of India established National
Institute of Naturopathy in 1986 at that place. Gandhiji included
Naturopathy in his constructive programmes. Due to influence of
Gandhiji, several National leaders joined this minority health movement.
The names of Ex-Prime Minister Shri Morarji Desai, Ex-Governor of
Gujarat Shri Shrimannarayanji, Ex-President Shri V.V.Giri, Acharya
Vinoba Bhave and Shri Balkova Bhave need special mention in this regard.
Indian
Naturopathy movement started mainly in the States of Andhra Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Naturopaths who did
foundation work in revival of Naturopathy in different States are Dr.
Mahavir Prasad Poddar, Dr. Janaki Sharan Varma, Shri Sharan Prasad, Dr.
Khushi Ram Dilkash, Dr. S.J. Singh, Dr. Hiralal, Dr. Vitthal Das Modi,
Dr. Kulranjan Mukherjee, Dr. Sukhram Das, Dr.J.M. Jussawala,
Dr.
M.M. Bhamgara, Dr. Vegi Raju Krishnam Raju, Dr. B. Venkat Rao, Dr. B.
Vijaya Laxmi, Dr. Ganga Prasad Gaur Nahar, Shri Dharam Chanda Saravagi,
Dr. Sukhbir Singh Rawat, Acharya K. Laxman Sharma etc.
Here,
it may also be mentioned that modern Naturopathy movement was started
in Germany and other western countries with Water Cure (Hydrotherapy)
therapy. Water Cure was synonymous with Nature Cure in those early days.
The credit of making Water Cure world famous goes to Vincent Priessnitz
(1799-1851), who was a farmer. Later on, other personalities also made
their contribution in this work. The name of Louis Kuhne needs special
mention, who propounded the Principle of Unity of Disease and Treatment
and provided a theoretical base to this method. The book New Science of
Healing written by him has been translated into several languages of the
world.
The
names of Dr. Henry Lindlahr, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Arnold Ehrit, D. D.
Palmer, Rolier, E.D. Babbit, Bernarr Macfadden, Arnold Rickley, J.H.
Tilden, Father Kneipp, Benedict Lust, Stainley Lief and Herry Benjamin
etc. may also be mentioned among others who had their share of
contribution to the development of Naturopathy.
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