conventional medicine and began to explore other
methods now referred to as integrative, alternative,
and complementary medicine.
According to the Internet article “What Is the
History of Naturopathic Medicine?” by Peter Barry
Chowka: “Today, licensed naturopathic physicians
are experiencing noteworthy clinical successes,
providing leadership in innovative natural medical
research, enjoying increasing political influence,
and looking forward to an unlimited future poten-
tial. Both the American public and policy makers
are recognizing and contributing to the resurgence
of the comprehensive system of health care prac-
ticed by NDs. In 1992, the National Institutes of
Health’s (NIH) Office of Alternative Medicine, cre-
ated by an act of Congress, invited leading natur-
opathic physicians (educators, researchers, and
clinical practitioners) to serve on key federal advi-
sory panels and to help define priorities and
design protocols for state-of-the-art alternative
medical research. In 1994, the NIH selected Bastyr
University as the national center for research on
alternative treatments for HIV/AIDS. At a one-
million-dollar level of funding, this action repre-
sented the formal recognition by the federal
government of the legitimacy and significance of
naturopathic medicine. Meanwhile, the number of
new N.D.s is steadily increasing, and licensure of
naturopathic physicians is expanding into new
states. By April of 1996, eleven of fifty states had
naturopathic licensing laws (Alaska, Arizona, Con-
necticut, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hamp-
shire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington). A
number of other states are likely to enact naturo-
pathic licensing in the near future.”
In October 1996, the Natural Medicine Clinic,
which is the first medical facility in the nation to
offer natural medical treatments to the commu-
nity, opened in Kent, Washington, funded by the
King County (Seattle) Department of Public
Health. Bastyr University, one of the three Ameri-
can naturopathic colleges, was selected to operate
the clinic.
Naturopathy, wrote Chowka, “is as old as heal-
ing itself and as new as the latest discoveries in bio-
chemical sciences. In the United States, the
naturopathic medical profession’s infrastructure is
based on accredited educational institutions, pro-
fessional licensing by a growing number of states,
national standards of practice and care, peer
review, and an ongoing commitment to state-of-
the-art scientific research. Modern American
naturopathic physicians (N.D.s) receive extensive
training in and use therapies that are primarily
natural (hence the name naturopathic) and non-
toxic, including clinical nutrition, homeopathy,
botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medi-
cine, and counseling. Many N.D.s have additional
training and certification in acupuncture and
home birthing. These contemporary N.D.s, who
have attended naturopathic medical colleges rec-
ognized by the U.S. Department of Education,
practice medicine as primary health care providers
and are increasingly acknowledged as leaders in
bringing about progressive changes in the nation’s
medical system.”
Naturopathy is also useful in the treatment of
animals. More information on animal homeopathy
is available through Diana Hayes, DIHom Dip Ani-
mal Homeopathy- Registered Holistic Animal Prac-
titioner and vice president and national publicity
officer of the Holistic Animal Therapy Association
of Australia, Inc. (HATAA), telephone 011 1300
132 966 (Australian only),and international fax
011 6 1 8 9201 0282. Hayes is located in Victoria,
Australia.
See also HIPPOCRATES; HOMEOPATHY.near-death experience The state described by
individuals as between life and death, usually an
out-of-body feeling that one is floating above and
looking down on his or her own body and all the
goings-on around it before returning into the body
and being revived. During this experience, which
has infinite variations according to the individual’s
perception, a healing or other restorative or
enlightening vision, knowledge, or sensory experi-
ence may occur and foster a major change in one’s
thinking and approach to life.negative energy A component of natural forces
that may cause adverse effects on the body and
mind. Negative thinking, pessimism, anger, fear,
and the like, are believed to induce many disorders,
including cardiac arrhythmias and emotional dis-
turbances. Alternative practitioners often advocatenegative energy 101