subject: An Appreciation of Benedict Lust - The Father of Naturopathy [print this page] An Appreciation of Benedict Lust - The Father of Naturopathy
During his career Lust was harassed by authorities and medical associations and was arrested 19 times by New York and Federal Authorities. He continued to fight for the right to use drugless therapies until his death in 1945.
A particularly damaging event occurred for Lust and his college in 1910, when the Carnegie Foundation published the Flexner Report. In that report any health care delivery system outside of the chemical/surgical model was considered unacceptable for Americans. The report, written and endorsed by the American Medical Society and the drug industry resulted in government enacting strict laws controlling the delivery of medicine and health care. Major fear developed, as doctors who deviated from those mandates could end up ostracized and even imprisoned.
Colleges and financial interest followed drug development and trained doctors to use them. From that initiative came modern medical establishments who use penicillin, synthetic drugs, antibiotics and corticosteroids and thousands of pharmaceutical concoctions. Sadly, the Flexner Report was deeply flawed and chemistry has not cured disease. The results of it are dependence on drugs and surgical interventions.
Lust continued to work to validate Naturopathy until he died in 1945. To stay out of harm's way the terminology of naturopaths changed as patient became client, and prescription became consultation. Finally, the laws have relaxed and traditional naturopaths (ND) as well as (NMD) can focus on the philosophy of natural health as Lust advocated, provided they step lightly. They may choose from the following and practice natural health care in different ways.
o Accupuncture and oriental medicine
o Botanical medicine
o Homeopathy
o Chiropractic
o Nutrition, as vegetarian, whole food diets, fasting, refraining from alcohol and sugars, etc.
o Physical medicine, as various massage techniques, physiotherapy, sports medicine, exercise and hydrotherapy.
o Nature cure, a range of therapies based on natural elements, as sunshine and fresh air.
o Psychological counseling, as meditation, relaxation, stress management.
o Minor surgeries, natural childbirth, and intravenous therapy.
o Color and sound therapy
o Iridology
o Kinesiology
o Public health measures and hygiene
o Reflexology
o Nature whole food supplements, vitamins, minerals, and natural substances
o Yoga and India's Ayruvedic medicine
We owe Benedict Lust a huge thank you for keeping the dream of nature's power alive during those cloudy years. Although not endorsed by government or the AMA each of these models are moving back into the mainstream of health care. People who choose them are sick less often and require few medical interventions. The cost of health care is an issue that all Americans bear. Alternative health care and medicine is a major key to lowering that cost.
My biggest FEAR in life is becoming dependent.
The idea of depending on my boss, a medical doctor, expensive insurance or the government for my health care does not feel right.
