Vincent Priessnitz laid down the principles upon which Nature Cure is based. He was born in 1799 in Gräfenberg, Jesenik (Freiwaldau), in Silesia, today part of the Czech Republic. He grew up on a farm and he had a remarkable perception and ability to learn from nature. As a child, he noticed the habits of animals and what they did when they were sick or injured. He found that sick and injured animals rest in a secluded place and come out only to drink and to immerse injured or sick parts of the body in the water. He also noticed that sick animals don’t eat any food.

One day he noticed an injured doe which had been shot in the leg. He saw it dragging itself with difficulty to the spring where it laid down with the injured leg in the water. Priessnitz watched the animal for many days and saw it repeating the treatment at intervals. In between it was resting under a shrub. It ate no food but drank water only. This experience made a great impression on him and he would not forget it.

When Priessnitz was 17 he had an accident which almost took his life. He became unconscious and a surgeon was called upon. He said Priessnitz life was in danger and even if he survived he would remain an invalid for life. When Priessnitz regained consciousness he applied cold compresses to his chest and drank water only. His symptoms receded in a few days and he was soon able to do some light work again. After several months he was recovered. Priessnitz then started to treat his neighbours and news of his good results spread. He was using mainly diet, exercise, positive thinking and hydrotherapy.

His methods became known as the water cure (later hydropathy, hydrotherapy, nature cure and naturopathy). He also gained a good reputation far away from his home. His home became a sanatorium in 1822. This sanatorium was soon to be world famous and to start off a movement that soon spread to other countries. Visitors soon came from whole Europe and even from America. One year he had visitors from 37 different countries. Although he had excellent results, some people did not like his vocation. He became a target for antagonism and repeated attacks from the medical profession. He was charged with the unauthorised practice of medicine. He was trialed and sentenced to imprisonment. But Priessnitz appealed to a higher court for suspension of the verdict. Priessnitz defended himself and asked how the court could force such an indictment against someone who had never prescribed any medicines, nor encouraged the use of them. They might as well arrest him for advising his neighbours to do exercise or change their diet. No one could be found who had been harmed or dissatisfied with Priessnitz treatment, and he was discharged. He was even issued with an official permit to run his own establishment.

Through the years there were several further complaints from the medical profession who tried to stop his practice. They pressed the government to do an investigation. A commission was sent to investigate Priessnitz and his practice. The commission was very impressed with Priessnitz and the results of his approach.

After the commission’s report in 1838, Priessnitz was never again threatened with prosecution or subjected to public attacks. Instead, he was to enjoy the same privileges as medical doctors in regards to the practice of hygienic remedies. He now had a licence to practice legally. The report stated that “..it will always remain that his curing method is still a new and remarkable discovery in the area of medicine”. (At this time there was no separation of medicine and natural healing methods as we have today. Today we don’t look at Nature Cure being a part of medicine but rather a philosophy opposed to the philosophy and practise of medicine.) Several governments sent people to study Priessnitz methods. Priessnitz understood the cause of disease, the role of dietetics, of the skin, the importance of exercise and fresh air and the importance of keeping a positive mental attitude. Most importantly he discovered that acute disease is a healing process. It is an effort greater than normal to expel toxic waste products and perform healing. (See point 7.)

In his lifetime and during the second half of the 19th century the use of water for healing became popular in Europe and North America. Priessnitz did not leave any literature behind and after his death he was largely forgotten. However, many people, both physicians and laymen studied with him, wrote books and spread his methods to other countries. The first book published in English was called “Hydropathy” and was written by R. T. Claridge – a man who initially visited Priessnitz as a sceptic. (A document was written in 1847 by Priessnitz daughter using Priessnitz´ own words but this was never published. (1+2) ) Some others who followed Priessnitz path were Louis Kuhne, Sebastian Kneipp, R. T. Trall, Adolf Just, Benedict Lust, James C. Thomson, Henry Lindlahr and John Tilden. Dr W. Winternitz introduced Priessnitz methods at the medical faculty of Vienna. He was called “the scientific father of hydrotherapy”. Mahatma Gandhi, who was inspired by Kuhne, opened a sanatorium in Pune in 1944. Two geniuses who were instrumental for Nature Cure were Professor Edmond B. Szekley who in the 1930’s through his own research made Nature Cure into a science, and legendary Australian Nature Cure practitioner Kenneth S. Jaffrey. During the first part of the 20th century interest for hydrotherapy diminished but is now on the rise again. Priessnitz’ original philosophy and methods however have unfortunately been forgotten. Priessnitz was famous all over the world. He was called “the Columbus of medicine”. He could be said to be the founder of nature cure, naturopathy and the modern Spa movement. His principles are also the base for natural treatments still used in medicine today. In the German speaking world “Klassisches Naturheilverfahren” based on Priessnitz´ teachings is used by medical practitioners. In USA many hydrotherapy institutions opened as Priessnitz´ teachings spread to America. Considering these facts it is remarkable that very few people today know his name, even among professionals. (3+4)