Naturopathy originates in "Nature Cure" -- a system that uses natural agents for treating diseases and popularized in Europe during the 19^th century. Traditionally, healing was based on natural substances and processes and involved the use of herbs, the medicinal powers of food and water, and stimulation of the body's internal energies to promote healing. Nature cure incorporated a number of these techniques.

In 1896, Benedict Lust brought this form of healing to North America. He had cured himself of tuberculosis using hydrotherapy methods made popular by an Austrian priest named Sebastian Kneipp. As a strong believer in natural therapies, Lust founded the first school of naturopathic medicine in New York City, with 1902 seeing the first graduating class. Another gentlemen by the name of James Foster founded a similar school in Idaho, raising awareness on this form of healing throughout the United States Northwest. Together, Lust and Foster coined the term "naturopathy" to encompass the various healing modalities that form this holistic, unified approach to healing. As previously mentioned, this form of healing has also been referred to as "Nature Cure", as well as "Natural Medicine".

With the emergence of naturopathic schools at the beginning of the 20^th century, naturopathy became very popular throughout the United States and Canada. The profession was regulated in British Columbia and Ontario during the 1920's, but growth slowed after World War II with the advent of antibiotics, advanced surgical techniques, and other medical technologies that seemed to leave nature-based healing behind. Pharmaceuticals and "high-tech" medicine became accepted as "conventional" while naturopathy and similar forms of healing were stigmatized as "unconventional" or "alternative". Nature Cure was now obsolete.

During the past few decades, however, naturopathy has enjoyed an unparalleled resurgence as the limitations of Allopathic/Western medicine are being reached and alternative forms of healing are actively pursued by both a broader medical community and the general public; eager for options. New schools of naturopathic medicine have formed in both the United States and Canada. Today, there are over one thousand naturopathic doctors in the United States and over four hundred and fifty in Canada.