i hope that helps ....the Atharva Veda, one of the four Vedas, is frequently regarded as the earliest repository of knowledge pertaining to health, disease, and therapeutic practices. It contains a plethora of hymns that reference herbal medicine, the utilisation of plants, and natural remedies. To illustrate, the Atharva Veda makes reference to a number of herbs, including Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), and Neem (Azadirachta indica), which continue to be employed extensively in the fields of naturopathy and Ayurveda in the present day. The text places an emphasis on the healing properties of nature and the significance of utilising natural elements to maintain health and equilibrium within the body (Atharva Veda, 6.91). Similarly, the Rig Veda, the oldest of the Vedas, extols the virtues of natural elements such as water, air, and sunlight as fundamental to health and well-being. The text includes verses that praise the sun (Surya) for its life-giving and healing properties, which align with the naturopathic principle of sun therapy or heliotherapy (Rig Veda, 1.50). Furthermore, the Rig Veda emphasises the purifying and healing properties of water (Apas), thereby underscoring the significance of natural elements in maintaining health (Rig Veda, 10.9). The Yajur Veda further reinforces these concepts by focusing on the harmony between the body and the cosmos. It advocates the use of various plants and their properties to maintain health and treat diseases (Yajur Veda, 36.24), while also emphasising a balanced diet and proper nutrition, both of which are core tenets of naturopathy.
The Upanishads, which are philosophical texts that explore the spiritual dimensions of the Vedas, also provide insights that are relevant to naturopathy. The Prashna Upanishad presents a discussion of the concept of prana (vital life force) and its sustenance through the inhalation of air, ingestion of food, and consumption of water. This reflects a naturopathic understanding of the importance of clean air, water, and a balanced diet in maintaining life and health (Prashna Upanishad, 3.5). The Chandogya Upanishad places great emphasis on the role of diet and lifestyle in maintaining spiritual and physical health. It suggests that the purity of food affects the purity of the mind and body, and encourages the consumption of sattvic food (pure and natural) to enhance health and vitality (Chandogya Upanishad, 7.26.2). This concept is consistent with the naturopathic approach, which advocates a diet based on plant-based foods, whole foods, and natural nutrition, with the aim of promoting health and preventing disease. Furthermore, the Taittiriya Upanishad provides an elaboration of the five sheaths (pancha kosha) of human existence, namely the physical, vital, mental, intellectual, and blissful. It suggests that well-being is achieved through a harmonious balance of all these layers. The text emphasises the significance of moderation in dietary habits, the utilisation of herbal remedies and the practice of yoga and meditation as means of attaining this equilibrium. This reflects the holistic approach that is a central tenet of naturopathy.
While the Vedas and Upanishads provide foundational references, the broader principles of naturopathy are more explicitly articulated in other ancient Indian texts, such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Charaka Samhita. The Yoga Sutras place emphasis on the practice of physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) as a means of achieving mental and physical health. This aligns with the naturopathic approach, which emphasises natural methods of treatment. The Charaka Samhita, a foundational text in the field of Ayurveda, provides comprehensive insights into dietary habits, lifestyle choices, and the therapeutic potential of herbal medicine. It emphasises that optimal health is contingent upon a harmonious alignment with the natural world. These texts discuss treatments such as hydrotherapy (the use of water for healing), fasting (langhana) for detoxification, and the therapeutic use of sunlight, all of which are central to modern naturopathic practices.
..although the term "naturopathy" is absent from the Vedas and Upanishads, numerous fundamental tenets of naturopathy, including the utilisation of natural remedies, the therapeutic efficacy of elements such as water and sunlight, a balanced diet, and the practice of yoga and meditation, are deeply embedded within these ancient texts. The Vedas and Upanishads provide a philosophical and spiritual foundation for the naturopathic approach to health, emphasising the importance of achieving balance, harmony, and alignment with the natural world as a means of attaining well-being.