Naturopathy is a system of healing science stimulating the body’s inherent power to regain health with the help
of five great elements of nature – Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Ether. Naturopathy is a call to "Return to Nature"
and to resort to simple way of living in harmony with the self, society and environment.

Naturopathy provides not only a simple practical approach to the management of diseases, but a firm theoretical
basis which is applicable to all the holistic medical care and by giving attention to the foundations of health; also
offers a more economical frame work for the medicine of future generation.

Though the basic Nature Cure deals only with Pancha Mahabhoota’s, the recent developments advocates the practiceof drugless therapies like Massage, Electrotherapy, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture and Acupressure, Magnetotherapy etc., Diet plays a major role, above all.

History

Nature Cure movement started in Germany & other western countries with "Water cure" (Hydrotherapy). 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. Dr. Henry Lindlahr and others go to the extent of crediting him as "Father of Naturopathy". The word "Naturopathy" has been coined by Dr. John Scheel in the year 1895 and was propagated and popularised in the western world by Dr. Benedict Lust. A number of Doctors of modern medicine and others became Nature Cure enthusiasts and gradually added a number of modalities within the fold of Naturopathy and scientifically developed them. Nature Cure movement gained momentum in India as Mahatma Gandhi, "Father of the Nation" became much interested in this system and included it in his programmes. He has also established a Nature Cure Hospital in Uruli Kanchan, Distt. Poona, Maharashtra which is still functioning.

Naturopathy adopts the following diagnostic methods :

Full life case history – covering all the facts of life, since birth.

Facial diagnosis – the science of facial expressions by studying the various characteristic features upon the body.

Iris diagnosis – study of iris indicating the condition of various visceral organs.

Modern clinical diagnosis to some extent.