Some aspects of naturopathy have common ground with other ancient holistic health systems, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, which share the belief that the body has an innate power to heal itself. In Naturopathy this power is known as the "vital force." Many of the principles of Naturopathy can be found in the work of the Greek physician Hippocrates. Writing in the 5th century B.C., he said that health could be maintained by a balance of rest, exercise, and plain food in moderation, while cures should be as natural as possible to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself.  

Many long-held naturopathic notions, such as the importance of a diet that is high in fiber and antioxidants, and low in salt and fat, have since been adopted by conventional medicine. Stress management and exercise, now accepted by doctors as important to health, have been stock-in-­trade in naturopathy for most of the 20th century. Conventional preventive medicine, though it might not admit it, owes a lot to the naturopathic tradition.