Benedict Lust (February 3, 1872 – September 5, 1945) was a German-born American who was one of the founders of naturopathic medicine in the first decades of the twentieth century.
Lust was born in Michelbach, Baden, Germany.[1] As a youth, he became ill and was treated by Fr. Sebastian Kneipp, a famous advocate of the water cure system.[1] In 1892, he moved to the United States as Kneipp's official water cure representative.[1] Lust attended the New York Preparatory College. He graduated from the Universal Osteopathic College in 1897 and the Eclectic and Naturopathic College in 1904.[1] He received an M.D. from the Eclectic Medical College of New York in 1914.[1]
In 1896, Lust began his career as a naturopath by opening a health center and health food store in New York City.[1] He also opened the New York School of Massage in 1896 and the American School of Chiropractic.[1][2] He published several German and English language magazines advocating hydrotherapy and natural cure. One of his regular customers at the time was Bernarr Macfadden, the popularizer of physical fitness and natural medicine.
Benedict Lust was a disciple of Adolf Just, a German naturopath.[3] Lust established a branch of Just‘s Jungborn in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey and translated in 1903 Just‘s book Kehrt zur Natur zurück! into English under the title Return to Nature; the True Natural Method of Living and Healing and the True Salvation of the Soul: Paradise Regained.[3]
In 1901, Lust opened the American School of Naturopathy in Manhattan. He served as the organization's only president.[4] In 1919, the Naturopathic Society of America was dissolved and Lust founded the American Naturopathic Association to supplant it.[4] He operated the Herald of Health and Naturopath journal. He was also associated with Bernarr Macfadden's Physical Culture magazine.[5]
Lust established health resorts known as Yungborn in Butler, New Jersey and Tangerine, Florida which acted as the Winter Campus for the American School of Naturopathy until 2001. He published and translated August Engelhardt's book, A Carefree Future in 1913.[6] In 1918, he published the Universal Naturopathic Encyclopedia for drugless therapy, and also published Nature’s Path magazine.
He became known as the "Father of Naturopathy" in America, and his writings and magazines introduced Americans not only to German methods, but also Indian concepts of Ayurveda and Yoga. Paramahansa Yogananda was one of several Indians who wrote articles for Nature’s Path in the 1920s, gaining wide exposure to a large American audience.
Lust was a vegetarianism activist and opponent of the germ theory of disease, vaccination and vivisection.[7][8] He considered the germ theory to be the "most gigantic hoax of modern times."[9] Lust eschewed the use of drugs and believed that all diseases, including cancer, could be cured by natural processes.[1]
Lust was the son of Johannes and Luise Lust.[1] He married Aloysia Stroebele (Louisa Stroebele Lust) in New York City on June 11, 1900.[1] Similar to Lust, Stroebele was a naturopath and vegetarian.[11] Lust's brother was Louis Lust, a baker who operated a bakery near Lust’s health center. Louis's son John B. Lust, was also a naturopath.
Controversy
Lust was criticized by medical experts for promoting quackery and was often in conflict with the American Medical Association.[12] On one occasion Lust was convicted of practicing medicine without a license and fined $100.[12] He promoted pseudoscientific treatments such as biological blood-washing and zone therapy.[12][13]
In total, Lust was arrested sixteen times by New York authorities and several times by federal agents.[14] In 1921, Lust was arrested for criminal libel against Frances Benzecry, a private detective for the American Medical Association.[14] Lust wrote that Benzecry was "a disgrace to American womanhood and to the free soil of America on which she treads". He was released after a $10,000 bond was posted.[14]
Selected publications
Universal Naturopathic Encyclopedia (1918)
The Fountain of Youth: Or Curing by Water (1923)
The Crime of Vaccination (1926)
Zone Therapy Or Relieving Pain and Sickness by Nerve Pressure (1928)
^ abcdefghijAnonymous. (1945). The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 32. New York: James T. White & Company. pp. 505-506.
^Cayleff, Susan E. (2016). Nature's Path: A History of Naturopathic Healing in America. Hopkins University Press. p. 34. ISBN978-1-4214-1903-9
^ abLeavitt, June O. (2012). The Mystical Life of Franz Kafka: Theosophy, Cabala, and the Modern Spiritual Revival. Oxford University Press. pp. 158-159. ISBN978-0-19-982783-1
^ abWhorton, James. C. (2002). Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America. Oxford University Press. p. 194. ISBN0-19-514071-0
^Hunt, William R. (1989). Body Love: The Amazing Career of Bernarr Macfadden. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 34. ISBN0-87972-463-3
^Hopkins, Prynce. (1944). From Gods to Dictators: Psychology of Religions and Their Totalitarian Substitutes. Haldeman-Julius publications. p. 44
^Iacobbo, Karen; Iacobbo, Michael. (2004). Vegetarian America: A History. Praeger Publishing. p. 150. ISBN978-0275975197
^Newton, David E. (2013). Vaccination Controversies: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 72. ISBN978-1-61069-311-0
^Whorton, James C. (2003). Benedict Lust, Naturopathy, and the Theory of Therapeutic Universalism. Iron Game History 8 (2): 22-29.
^Melton, J. Gordon. (1990). New Age Encyclopedia. Gale Research. p. 270. ISBN0-8103-7159-6
^Cayleff, Susan E. (2016). Nature's Path: A History of Naturopathic Healing in America. Hopkins University Press. pp. 73-76. ISBN978-1-4214-1903-9
^ abcBoyle, Eric W. (2013). Quack Medicine: A History of Combating Health Fraud in Twentieth-Century America. Praeger. pp. 85-86. ISBN978-0-313-38567-4
^ abcCayleff, Susan E. (2016). Nature's Path: A History of Naturopathic Healing in America. Hopkins University Press. p. 186. ISBN978-1-4214-1903-9
Lust, Benedict Yungborn: The Life and Times of Dr. Benedict Lust and Pilgrimages to the Great Masters, Healing Mountain Publishing, reprinted 2006. ISBN1-933350-04-0[1]
Wassamer & Payne Butler New Jersey In Story and Pictures Butler Argus, 1951.
External links
Media related to Benedict Lust at Wikimedia Commons
Naturopathic Opposition to Immunization - Quackwatch
December 31, 2022
benedict, lust, february, 1872, september, 1945, german, born, american, founders, naturopathic, medicine, first, decades, twentieth, century, lust, 1918born, 1872, february, 1872michelbach, baden, germanydiedseptember, 1945, 1945, aged, butler, jersey, occupa. Benedict Lust February 3 1872 September 5 1945 was a German born American who was one of the founders of naturopathic medicine in the first decades of the twentieth century Benedict LustLust in 1918Born 1872 02 03 February 3 1872Michelbach Baden GermanyDiedSeptember 5 1945 1945 09 05 aged 73 Butler New Jersey U S Occupation s Naturopath writer Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Controversy 4 Selected publications 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditLust was born in Michelbach Baden Germany 1 As a youth he became ill and was treated by Fr Sebastian Kneipp a famous advocate of the water cure system 1 In 1892 he moved to the United States as Kneipp s official water cure representative 1 Lust attended the New York Preparatory College He graduated from the Universal Osteopathic College in 1897 and the Eclectic and Naturopathic College in 1904 1 He received an M D from the Eclectic Medical College of New York in 1914 1 In 1896 Lust began his career as a naturopath by opening a health center and health food store in New York City 1 He also opened the New York School of Massage in 1896 and the American School of Chiropractic 1 2 He published several German and English language magazines advocating hydrotherapy and natural cure One of his regular customers at the time was Bernarr Macfadden the popularizer of physical fitness and natural medicine Benedict Lust was a disciple of Adolf Just a German naturopath 3 Lust established a branch of Just s Jungborn in the Ramapo Mountains of New Jersey and translated in 1903 Just s book Kehrt zur Natur zuruck into English under the title Return to Nature the True Natural Method of Living and Healing and the True Salvation of the Soul Paradise Regained 3 In 1901 Lust opened the American School of Naturopathy in Manhattan He served as the organization s only president 4 In 1919 the Naturopathic Society of America was dissolved and Lust founded the American Naturopathic Association to supplant it 4 He operated the Herald of Health and Naturopath journal He was also associated with Bernarr Macfadden s Physical Culture magazine 5 Lust established health resorts known as Yungborn in Butler New Jersey and Tangerine Florida which acted as the Winter Campus for the American School of Naturopathy until 2001 He published and translated August Engelhardt s book A Carefree Future in 1913 6 In 1918 he published the Universal Naturopathic Encyclopedia for drugless therapy and also published Nature s Path magazine He became known as the Father of Naturopathy in America and his writings and magazines introduced Americans not only to German methods but also Indian concepts of Ayurveda and Yoga Paramahansa Yogananda was one of several Indians who wrote articles for Nature s Path in the 1920s gaining wide exposure to a large American audience Lust was a vegetarianism activist and opponent of the germ theory of disease vaccination and vivisection 7 8 He considered the germ theory to be the most gigantic hoax of modern times 9 Lust eschewed the use of drugs and believed that all diseases including cancer could be cured by natural processes 1 Lust died at Butler New Jersey 10 Family EditLust was the son of Johannes and Luise Lust 1 He married Aloysia Stroebele Louisa Stroebele Lust in New York City on June 11 1900 1 Similar to Lust Stroebele was a naturopath and vegetarian 11 Lust s brother was Louis Lust a baker who operated a bakery near Lust s health center Louis s son John B Lust was also a naturopath Controversy EditLust was criticized by medical experts for promoting quackery and was often in conflict with the American Medical Association 12 On one occasion Lust was convicted of practicing medicine without a license and fined 100 12 He promoted pseudoscientific treatments such as biological blood washing and zone therapy 12 13 In total Lust was arrested sixteen times by New York authorities and several times by federal agents 14 In 1921 Lust was arrested for criminal libel against Frances Benzecry a private detective for the American Medical Association 14 Lust wrote that Benzecry was a disgrace to American womanhood and to the free soil of America on which she treads He was released after a 10 000 bond was posted 14 Selected publications EditUniversal Naturopathic Encyclopedia 1918 The Fountain of Youth Or Curing by Water 1923 The Crime of Vaccination 1926 Zone Therapy Or Relieving Pain and Sickness by Nerve Pressure 1928 See also EditLebensreformReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j Anonymous 1945 The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Volume 32 New York James T White amp Company pp 505 506 Cayleff Susan E 2016 Nature s Path A History of Naturopathic Healing in America Hopkins University Press p 34 ISBN 978 1 4214 1903 9 a b Leavitt June O 2012 The Mystical Life of Franz Kafka Theosophy Cabala and the Modern Spiritual Revival Oxford University Press pp 158 159 ISBN 978 0 19 982783 1 a b Whorton James C 2002 Nature Cures The History of Alternative Medicine in America Oxford University Press p 194 ISBN 0 19 514071 0 Hunt William R 1989 Body Love The Amazing Career of Bernarr Macfadden Bowling Green State University Popular Press p 34 ISBN 0 87972 463 3 Hopkins Prynce 1944 From Gods to Dictators Psychology of Religions and Their Totalitarian Substitutes Haldeman Julius publications p 44 Iacobbo Karen Iacobbo Michael 2004 Vegetarian America A History Praeger Publishing p 150 ISBN 978 0275975197 Newton David E 2013 Vaccination Controversies A Reference Handbook ABC CLIO p 72 ISBN 978 1 61069 311 0 Whorton James C 2003 Benedict Lust Naturopathy and the Theory of Therapeutic Universalism Iron Game History 8 2 22 29 Melton J Gordon 1990 New Age Encyclopedia Gale Research p 270 ISBN 0 8103 7159 6 Cayleff Susan E 2016 Nature s Path A History of Naturopathic Healing in America Hopkins University Press pp 73 76 ISBN 978 1 4214 1903 9 a b c Boyle Eric W 2013 Quack Medicine A History of Combating Health Fraud in Twentieth Century America Praeger pp 85 86 ISBN 978 0 313 38567 4 Gardner Martin 1957 Medical Cults Naturopathy In Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science Dover Publications ISBN 0 486 20394 8 a b c Cayleff Susan E 2016 Nature s Path A History of Naturopathic Healing in America Hopkins University Press p 186 ISBN 978 1 4214 1903 9 Lust Benedict Yungborn The Life and Times of Dr Benedict Lust and Pilgrimages to the Great Masters Healing Mountain Publishing reprinted 2006 ISBN 1 933350 04 0 1 Boyle Wade Kirchfield Friedhelm Nature Doctors Medicina Biologica 1994 ISBN 0 9623518 5 7 Wassamer amp Payne Butler New Jersey In Story and Pictures Butler Argus 1951 External links Edit Media related to Benedict Lust at Wikimedia Commons Naturopathic Opposition to Immunization Quackwatch Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benedict Lust amp oldid 1112648413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
