Natural health

In alternative medicine, natural health is an eclectic self-care system of natural therapies concerned with building and restoring health and wellness via prevention and healthy lifestyles. Natural health includes diet, exercise, naturopathy, nutripathy, herbalism, natural hygiene, homeopathy, massage therapy, relaxation techniques (e.g. Yoga, Tai Chi), acupuncture, sauna, aromatherapy, ayurveda medicine, and Kneipp therapy.

History of Natural Health

Although the term natural health did not become part of common usage until the late 20th century, many of its core beliefs developed in Europe-- where natural therapy is rather common and covered by mainstream health insurance companies -- and were brought over to the New World.

New World

Medical self-care was often the only health care available, and until the 1750s, most folk healers in the United States had little medical education beyond apprenticeships.

Around the time of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the practice of medicine was seen as more of a part-time avocation. Women and male lay practitioners took care of most medical matters including births, injuries, and illness through the use of folk medical practices. Of course, these natural healing practices varied from locality to locality with major cities, like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York City having hospitals and other medical practices approaching those found in Europe.