Nature Doctors Notes + Lecture Notes Benedict Lust (1872-1945) – The Father of Naturopathy . Nature cure, consisting of hydrotherapy, air and light baths, a vegetarian diet, and herbal remedies, originated in Europe with the work of Preissnitz, Rikli, Kneipp and others . Benedict Lust combined nature cure with homeopathy, massage, spinal manipulation, and therapeutic electricity in America Naturopathy . Born in southern Germany, came to Canada when he was 20 for fame and fortune . Got 6 vaccinations, operations and almost died of TB – Kneipp cured him in 8 months (went back to Germany to be healed and came back to America in 1896 to be Kneipp’s official representative) . He was not the first to bring Kneipp’s methods to America – he was the first to sense the need to Americanize Kneippism and make it acceptable to the population at large – combine Kneippism with other nature cure practices . Mrs. Frances Benzecry made a career of bringing charges against naturopaths (responsible for 800 arrests in 12 years). Lust was arrested for practicing without a license, found not guilty but paid $800 in fines and fees – called Mrs. Benzecry “a disgrace to America womanhood and to the free soil of America on which she treads” . Had a very successful magazine – changed name from Kneipp Water Cure Monthly to The Naturopath, also chaned Kneipp society to Naturopathy Society in 1897 . Before the prosecutions ended, Lust had been arrested 16 times by New York authorities and 3 times by federal authorities – not one Naturopath ever pleaded guilty . Naturopathy coined by the Drs. Scheel who combined the terms “nature cure” and “homeopathy” (hybrid word both Greek and Latin roots – criticized often because of this and also because it means “natural disease” than “natural healing”) – term coined in 1892, used by Lust in 1896 . Prosecution became so intense we could not use the words cure, healing, therapy, therapist, physician, doctor, or any other similar title. ‘Naturopath’ was a magic word that set us free! . Lust was a chief spokesman for naturopathy – his exuberant enthusiasm for a new healing method of fad sometimes interfered with his ability to evaluate something critically and to sift the wheat from the chaff . Cured his bro from typhoid fever in 2 weeks – water cure . It was not as a practitioner, however, but as an educator, promoter and organizer of naturopathy that Lust had his greatest impact . He believed naturopathy’s purpose was “to reach and transform and transfigure everyday lives” . “Naturopathy is the mother, all-inclusive, of natural therapy. It is the basic platform for all methods of healing; without it any healing art will be a failure” . Founded a natural health retreat near Butler, New Jersey called Yungborn (also opened a sanatorium in Florida) jointly owned with his wife Louisa . Guests lived in air cottages of tent colonies – would rise at 5am for a day of walks, sports, lectures, mud baths, vegetarian meals, health naps, stream plunges and sun bathing, garbed in nature’s apparel only. Retired at 9pm, men and women separate, no meat, tobacco, or contagious diseases were allowed . $2.50 per day, $16 per week, $60 per month . Lust was licensed to practice in Florida in 1914 and opened a Yungborn at Tangerine, Florida called Qui-si-sana. Fire destroyed it in 1943, marking the beginning of the end of Lust’s career and life. Natural Life Colony at Palm City in Cuba as well . Morris Fishbein of the Journal of the American Medical Association attacked Lust – said Lust and Lindlahr were gold digging frauds . Separated family doctors (friends) from political doctors (Devilish) . Lust was quick to admit not all naturopaths were legit – called them “pseudonaturopaths” . Lust rarely lost a debate and advocated patient rights, NOT “doctor knows all” . He believed in prevention as the future of medicine . Although Lust remained a lifelong enemy of what he regarded as the medical trust, he never took it personally (even though it cost him tens of thousands of dollars) . Besides establishing and popularizing naturopathy in the US, Lust: o Founded the American School of Naturopathy in 1901 (New York) – 1st to teach the degree and chiropractic. First 2 years, then 4 (John Hopkins was the 1st med school to offer 4 year program, naturopathy followed). Closed in 1942. Established New York School of Massage and Training School for Physio. Also offered naturopathic home study and post-grad courses through his journal o Founded the American Naturopathic Association (ANA) – 1902 – split up and united again in 1980 o Without Lust’s efforts there would be no licensure of naturopathy (1925) and without licensure there would be no naturopathic medicine as we know it today o Dreamed of a national examining board and naturopathic hospital . Lust we a widely known figure of his day. The impact of his work and fame was confined neither to America nor naturopathy . Tireless traveler - train and plane . Was in the fire at Yungborn in Florida and given sulfa drugs. His health declined for 2 years and his friends felt the sulfa drugs led to his decline. Official cause of death was coronary thrombosis in 1945 (he was 73) . He believed his greatest honor, besides being commissioned by Kneipp to bring his methods to America, was in being considered the worst enemy of orthodox medicine . Still – founder of osteopathy . DD Palmer – founder of chiropractic Louisa Lust (1868-1925) The Matriarch of Naturopathy . Daughter of the mayor of Sigmaringen, Germany, immigrated to America and became an accomplished naturopathic physician specializing in women’s tx. Moved to New York because there was a large German Population . During the 1890’s she was the dr-in-charge of Bellevue Sanitarium in Butler, NJ . Trained in the tradition of Rikli, most of her studies were in London . Headed the women’s department at the Yungborn retreats and employed hydrotherapy, vegetarian diet, air-and-light baths, and moderation . Born Aloysia Stroebele . Louisa and Benedict met in 1896 because he took pilgrimages to Butler with her brother Albert, a priest . The three of them established Butler Yungborn – Louisa was the leading financial partner . Their marriage in 1901 was a cause for celebration in the naturopathic community . Great practitioner and great preparer of healthful foods – she wrote a simple, wholesome vegetarian cookery book – Practical Naturopathic Vegetarian Cook Book . “If mothers would learn how to live…to prepare simple healthy foods and by example teach their children the all-important lessons of how and what to feed the body, sickness would be out-grown and forgotten in one generation” . She advocated the “nut and fruit diet”, NO sugar, butter, or white flour . No better treatment than the steam bath, for prevention a daily cool natural bath . She was said to have “brought out the captainship of Dr. Benedict Lust.” She was a powerful presence behind the scene. Kept a low profile. She died in 1925 at the age of 57 from “chronic endocarditis” (inflammation of the heart) . She died without a will, thus depriving him of financial resources which he and the profession had relied upon for decades. He seriously considered abandoning naturopathy after this . “naturopathy is freedom from fear” – empowering, making your own decisions . “mastery of hygiene” – cleanliness and vegetarianism . “Treat the individual” – even the diet . With the 1st sign of a fever = enema with warm water (heats the body and removes toxins, followed by rhubarb tea). No solid foods, water every hour (so patient doesn’t dehydrate). Never kill a fever. Life was difficult as a naturopath – all $ went back into keeping the clinic running, supporting Benedict and naturopathy Henry Lindlahr (1862-1924) Founder of Scientific Naturopathy . In 1893 Henry Lindlahr was a prosperous business man, banker, mayor, and leading citizen of Kalispell, Montana. Made his fortune off railroad real estate – land speculator and successful businessman . Lived in Germany until he was 20 – trained as a brewing and baking chemist . 5’6’’ and 250 pounds, diagnosed with sugar diabetes (type II) . Read Louis Kuhne’s The New Science of Healing, practiced it and found the results “most gratifying” . Visitied Kneipp in Bacaira and he said “you have a sugar disease. You are a pig. You will take sitz baths, live on fruits and greens and vegetables alone. You shall have no breads, no cereals, no meats” – by spring he lost 43 pounds and regained his health – this revolutionized his outlook on life (used to think life, death, & disease were chance) . Felt betrayed by official medicine. Believed they should have warned him and his family about the consequences of eating and living which could lead to disease . Returned to Texas in 1898 and money making lost its charm . Went to medical school and took osteopathy on top of it. Passed the Illinois Drugless Practitioner Exam in 1902 and started nutritional practice. Graduated med school in 1904. Started a sanitarium because he realized the need for patient supervision - South Ashland Blvd called the Mike McDonald homestead . Believed chronic disease was “due to accumulation of waste matter and poisons” and that “every so-called acute disease is the result of a cleansing and healing effort of Nature” . Chronic disease was the result of suppression of acute disease “if acute diseases are treated in a natural way, there are no chronic diseases to cure” . In his Catechism of Nature Cure, Lindlahr recognized 5 categories of natural therapy: return to nature – biggest role – meant to return to a more natural diet. His wife Anna wrote The Vegetarian Kitchen which described the relationship between diet and health. Proponent of rest and relaxation. She was very knowledgeable of his work – his able and tireless supporter. elementary remedies: water, air, light, electricity. Used hot and cold water.