Traditional Naturopathy

Professional Scope of Practice for
Trinity School of Natural Health Graduates

Purpose

This Scope of Practice defines the professional activities of a Traditional Naturopath trained through Trinity School of Natural Health. It reflects:

• Classical naturopathic philosophy
• The federal definition of naturopathy, as clarified by the U.S. Act of Congress (1929, clarified in 1931)
• Principles from Combining Old and New: Naturopathy for the 21st Century
• Modern wellness, education, and lifestyle-based practice

Traditional naturopathy is a non-medical, non-diagnostic, wellness-based profession focused on supporting the body's natural ability to heal using natural, non-invasive methods.

Historical and Legal Foundation

In 1929, the U.S. Congress formally recognized naturopathy as: "Any system of healing that does not resort to the use of drugs, conventional medicine, or operative surgery for the prevention, relief, or cure of disease."

In 1931, Congress clarified what naturopathy included, listing natural methods such as:

• Dietetics and natural nutrition
• Hydrotherapy
• Mechanotherapy
• Light, air, heat, and water therapies
• Use of foods, herbs, and natural substances in their natural state
• Nature-based and physical methods

This federal action did not create licensure or medical authority, but it affirmed naturopathy as a distinct, natural, non-drug, non-surgical system of health support.

Traditional naturopathy today continues this historical model: natural methods, education, lifestyle, and self-care, without medical diagnosis or pharmaceutical treatment.

Philosophical Foundation

Traditional naturopathy is guided by timeless principles:

• The body possesses an inherent self-healing intelligence
• Address the whole person—body, mind, lifestyle, and environment
• Identify and target root causes
• Use the least invasive, most natural methods first
• Educate and empower individuals

These principles align with both classical naturopathic philosophy and the early Congressional definition of naturopathy.

Scope of Practice for Traditional Naturopathy

A Traditional Naturopath may provide non-medical wellness services, including:

1. Wellness Education & Coaching

• Health education and self-care instruction
• Lifestyle assessment and guidance
• Stress management, emotional wellness, and resilience support
• Sleep, movement, and daily routine coaching
• Goal-setting for long-term vitality

2. Nutrition & Natural Foods Guidance

• Traditional, natural, whole-food selection
• Nutrition education
• Fasting and cleansing education
• Food quality, preparation, and traditional diets
• Digestive and metabolic wellness support

3. Natural and Traditional Modalities
A Traditional Naturopath may utilize and educate about:

• Herbal and botanical preparations
• Nutritional and food-based supplementation
• Homeopathy
• Hydrotherapy
• Light, air, heat, and water therapies
• Exercise and care of the human frame
• Traditional, complementary, and alternative healing practices
• Nature-based therapies such as sunlight, fresh air, grounding, and movement

4. Preventive and Supportive Care

• Wellness maintenance programs
• Immune and vitality support
• Age-related wellness strategies
• Environmental and lifestyle balance
• Habit formation and long-term health planning

5. Client Education & Empowerment

• Teaching self-responsibility for health
• Encouraging informed personal health choices
• Lifestyle transformation guidance
• Building sustainable long-term wellness strategies

Professional Boundaries

A Traditional Naturopath:

• Does not diagnose disease
• Does not treat or claim to cure disease
• Does not prescribe pharmaceutical drugs
• Does not perform surgery or invasive procedures
• Does not replace licensed medical care
• Does not manage medical emergencies

Traditional naturopathy is complementary and educational, not medical.

Legal and Ethical Framework

• The title "Traditional Naturopath" is not regulated in many jurisdictions
• Practice must comply with all local, state, and national laws
• Practitioners must represent themselves accurately
• Services must be described as wellness, educational, or supportive

Historically, naturopathy has been described in federal and state references as a system of natural methods, including diet, herbs, water, light, air, and lifestyle, to support health without drugs or surgery. Modern traditional naturopathy continues this non-medical, natural framework.

Client Relationship

Traditional Naturopaths:

• Work in partnership with clients
• Encourage collaboration with licensed healthcare providers
• Refer when medical evaluation is needed
• Support informed consent and personal choice
• Maintain confidentiality and professional ethics

Summary Statement

A Traditional Naturopath:

• Practices within a natural, non-drug, non-surgical framework
• Supports wellness, not disease treatment
• Educates rather than diagnoses
• Uses natural, non-invasive methods
• Honors the body's self-healing capacity
• Empowers individuals through knowledge, lifestyle, and natural living

This Scope of Practice reflects both the historical roots of naturopathy and its modern role as a holistic, educational, and wellness-based profession, consistent with classical naturopathic philosophy and contemporary works such as Combining Old and New: Naturopathy for the 21st Century.