OneOnehundredyearsagonaturopath,GeorgeJ.

Drewswrote:Cheerupsistersandbrothersand
rejoicewithmeforIhavefoundthekeythatunlocksthedoortophysical,mental,moralandspiritual
savationandIwilltellyouhowtousethatkeyifyouwillbutlisten.Thosewhoareseekingforabsolute
health,longevityandrefinementshouldunderstandthatTHEBODY,MIND,SPIRITANDSOULARE
ABSOLUTELYINTERDEPENDENT...AhealthybodycanonlybebuiltandmaintainedwithNatures
perfect(unpervertedandunfired)food,purewater,freshair,sunshine,exercise,restfulsleepanda
serenementalattitudesavoredwithloftyaspirations.

Andsobeganamovement100yearsagothaturgedtheconsumptionofthemoral,allliving,vegandiet.
EarlynaturopathicdoctorsandchiropractorslikeGeorgeJuliusDrewsandHelenSherrywrote
prolificallyaboutthecuringandvitalizingeffectsofanapyrotrophicdiet.Apyrotrophywasanewly
coinedwordfromtheGreek:Aun,pyrosfire,andtrophynourishing,unfiredfeeding.Anowantique
bookbyDrewsentitled,UnfiredFoodandTrophoTherapy(foodcure),featuresseveralhundredraw
foodrecipesforconcoctionscalledsynedes(arawunmixedsaladpreparedinalargedishwitheach
ingredientarrangedinitsownplaceonthedish)andpossets(avegetable,tuberandfruitjuiceblend).
Livingorganicslikethedahliabulbwereconsideredimportantanddelicioustoeat,buttheworkofthese
physiciansmainlyfocusedonthesciencebehindthemoral,allliving,vegandietmoralmeaningliving
vegetationwithanemphasisonleafygreens.

Vegetarianismwasestablishedbyearlynaturopathsasoneofthetwelveoriginalprinciplesof
naturopathyyetDrewstookvegetarianismstepsfurtherbypassionatelyadvocatingeatingonlyanunfired
(uncooked)plantbaseddiet.Whilethescienceandwisdomofembracingarawvegandietwasthe
outgrowthofthisnewmovementofnourishingthebody,itscornerstoneandveryessenceforbeingwas
morality.

Theapyrotrophicplantbaseddietwasconsideredpureandthatpuritytranslatedtovirtuousidealsof
morality.Thetrophersbelievedthatfoodchoiceselevatedonesplaceinthesocialorder.Therawfood
devoteesofthattimeattachedmoralitytofoodchoiceandmostconsideredrawvegetarianfoodasthe
onlymoraldietknowntoscience(TheNaturopathandHeraldofHealth,DagenbachandDrews,1913,
p.200).Theyarguedquitesimplythatifyouknewacertainfoodtobeinjurioustoyourhealth,resulting
indisease,yoursocialresponsibilityforbeingabletocontributetosocietywasjeopardized.They
believedmalnutritioninmostcaseswasthecauseofdiseaseandprematuredeathandtherewasnomore
nutritiousdietthanapyrotrophy.Sherryadvocatedthathewhoadoptedtherawdiethadthesatisfaction
offeelingthathehadaddedimmeasurablytohismoralstature.Heisabetter,healthierandmentally,a
sanermanthanheeverwasbefore(1913a,p.52).Theconsciouseatercontributedtoahighermodeof
feeding(Sherry,1913b,p.122)leadingtospiritualtriumphandselfmastery.

HelenSherryvocalized,Ifwhatweeatmakesusmoreorlessefficientintheworkoftheworld,weare
morallyboundtoselectsuchadietaswillgiveusstrengthadequatetothecallsuponus(1913b,p.122).
Thesenaturopathspassionatelybelievedthatvirtuousidealsweremoreeasilyaccomplishedand
maintainedbyeatingrawplantbasedfood.Thefactthatasimilarsentimentprevailstothisdayindicates
thatrawvegansexperienceanelevatedsenseofnotonlyphysicalwellbeing,butmental,emotionaland
spiritual.Vegetariansandveganstodaytendtothinkofthemselvesasmorecompassionateandmore
spirituallyenlightenedthanmanyoftheircarnivorouscounterpartsandperhapstheresareasonwhy.