Physical Culture in Naturopathic Medicine

The naturopathic doctors of the early twentieth century recognized the "Physical Culture" movement, championed by Bernarr Macfadden, as the powerful tool it was for promoting enduring health. Its primary objective was to mobilize people to get active to get healthy. It was promoted by a massively successful publishing enterprise, which popularized images of men and women exercising and doing sports. As well as championing an active lifestyle, the Physical Culture movement called attention to unhealthy clothing fashions for women, such as the wretched corsets of the time. The movement called out the censoring of information about female physiology, women's health, and planned parenthood. Naturopaths and Physical Culturalists alike eschewed sedentary lifestyles and the oppression of women, instead encouraging liberating knowledge about women's and men's health, sunshine, fresh air, wholesome food, connection to the earth and hydrotherapy, all foundational to naturopathic practice. The Physical Culture movement is still with us today. Some of the terminology may be different, but the principles remain powerful and effective. The Indigenous Rowing program at the Onondaga Nation is a powerful modern day example of Benedict Lust's passion for Physical Culture as the center of Naturopathic Medicine and an enduring solution of Indigenous Diabetes and Heart Disease. -Dr. Gere Reisinger, ND (NCNM 1975) Head Coach Indigenous Rowing Club, Onondaga Nation Dr. Sussanna Czeranko continues to provide readers with important historical references from rare book collections from around the world in this newest addition to her series. What a wonderful revelation to discover that champions for Naturopathic Medicine, like Bernarr Macfadden who promoted exercise and physical fitness, were also dynamic voices in the Suffragette another reason to love and have pride in this profession! -Karen Frangos, PT, ND (NCNM 1997) President of the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians Sussanna Czeranko is a brilliant physician-scholar who has contributed greatly to the history of naturopathic medicine through the Hevert Collection. Dr. Czeranko's examination of the Physical Culture of early Naturopathy is an important and timely addition to medical literature. This text thoroughly covers the early history of Physical Culture, a subject that I have explored for over two decades and is very relevant for today. I highly recommend this book to any practitioner or historian interested in Physical Culture. -Les Moore, ND, MSOM, DHANP, LAc (NCNM 1999) Author, "Classical Formulas in the Western Herbal Tradition,"