IAHP Standards of Practice

The following standards are intended to define the scope of practice of members of the IAHP.

They represent basic inclusions and exclusions from a Hygienic Physician practice.

1. Hygienic Physicians shall at all times strive to meet the biological needs of the individual in keeping with his capacity at the time of this care. In doing so, the Hygienic Physician shall only include those materials and influences that have a normal relationship to the body and apply them in a physiological manner. It is, however, recognized that certain circumstances do exist where the use of non-Hygienic measures are necessary and, in fact, vital to the preservation of life and limb. Surgical procedures and emergency medicine may be necessary.

2. Hygienic Physicians shall strive to identify and remove the causes of disease and at the same time provide conditions conducive to the recovery of health.

3. Hygienic Physicians shall incorporate in their practice only those materials and
influences which have a normal relationship to the body. Such materials and influences
include food, fasting, rest, exercise, fresh air, and sunshine.

4. Hygienic Physicians shall exclude from their practice those materials and influences adverse to normal physiology such as:

• a. The routine prescription of remedial agents such as drugs, vitamin concentrates, mineral supplements, or medicinal herbs.
• b. The general use of fragmented foods.
• c. The general use of enemas, colonics, hydrolics, or laxatives.
• d. The employment of any type of mysticism, spiritualism, or the occult.
• e. The employment of any form of mind control methodology or hypnotism.
• f. The use of any and all other practices and procedures which might be excluded from basic Hygienic Physician Practice by the Board of Governors of the IAHP.

5. Hygienic Physicians recognize that the body has no fundamental need for any kind of
therapy. If therapy is used under exceptional circumstances to gain an end, it should be done as conservatively as possible and with a full disclosure of its limited palliative effect.
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IAHP Principles of Ethics

The following principles are intended to help members of the IAHP maintain ethical conduct. These are standards by which a physician may determine conduct in relationships with patients, colleagues, members of the scientific community, and with the public at large. 

1. Hygienic Physicians should render service to humanity with full respect for the dignity of humankind in general and the total individual in particular. Hygienic Physicians should consider the person's total physical and mental needs, educating the person in the right ways of living. The care shall be at all times in the best interests of the individual. 
2. Hygienic Physicians should strive continually to improve their skills and scientific knowledge and make their attainments available to the individuals under their care. 
3. Hygienic Physicians should recognize that individuals have an inalienable right to share in making decisions pertaining to their care. Hygienic Physicians should guide and educate persons toward this goal and actively encourage them to become self-reliant in their maintenance of their own health. 
4. Hygienic Physicians will observe the law in the conduct of their practice; they shall uphold the dignity of the Association and fully accept its self-imposed disciplines. 
5. Hygienic Physicians may advertise where legal. In doing so, however, they should at all times be guided by principles of dignity and good taste. 
6. Hygienic Physicians shall not reveal the confidences entrusted to them in the course of their care, or the deficiencies observed in a person's character, unless required to do so by law, or unless it becomes necessary in order to protect the welfare of the individual or of the community. 
7. Members of the International Association of Hygienic Physicians are expected to uphold the good name, integrity, and reputation of their professional colleagues at all times, both publicly and privately, and it is agreed that all conflicts of philosophy and practice should be resolved within the confines of the Association. 
8. Members of the Association shall refrain from involvement in the marketing and/or profiting from the sale of therapeutic products, nutritional supplements, etc., to their patients.

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IAHP Standards of Practice of Fasting Supervision

1. Prior to undertaking the supervision of a fast, the physician shall collect an appropriate case history and perform a physical examination.
2. Appropriate medical consultation shall be made for patients on prescribed medication when any modifications of the same are intended or anticipated.
3. Absent exceptional circumstances, appropriate laboratory monitoring is advisable for all fasting patients prior to initiating the fast. For all fasts beyond seven (7) days, ongoing continuous physiological monitoring shall be undertaken as deemed appropriate in the view of the attending physician.
4. Informed consent will be secured from all patients, and the same will be documented in the patient's file.
5. Vital signs of all fasting patients will be monitored daily and more often if necessary. Such monitoring will consist of at least the taking of blood pressure and pulse.
6. A written daily record of progress will be made, which shall include appropriate vital signs.
7. Water shall be available to patients at all times.
8. Care shall be exercised in terminating the fast and supervised post-fasting recuperation consistent with hygienic principles. Patients shall be encouraged to remain under supervision until sufficient recovery has been attained.

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IAHP Certification Standards

In order to be a candidate for Professional Certification by the Association, the Board of Governors sets the following Certification Standards:

1. A minimum of six months internship-residency with a qualified Hygienic Physician instructor recognized by the Association absent special circumstances. At least three months residency must be with one Professional only. Applications and arrangements for residency must be made through the Association.
2. The experience of at least one thousand patient/day equivalents, which should include a minimum of thirty-five patients who have fasted ten days or longer.
3. Passing oral exam by three certified members of the Association with emphasis on understanding the physiology of fasting and general Hygienic care.
4. Approval of Certification shall be at the discretion of the Board of Governors, who shall be under no obligation to explain its actions.
5. Absent specific geographic or financial circumstances, applicants for certification should be present at an Annual Meeting prior to being granted said status.
6. In order to retain a Certified status, a member should continue to attend an Annual Meeting at least once every three years. For members whose special geographic or financial circumstances prohibit Annual Meeting attendance as set forth above, said member may alternatively retain a Certified status by fulfilling one of the following continuing professional education requirements within every three-year period: a) A contribution to the Newsletter,  b) Contact with a fellow Certified professional, or attendance at a recognized seminar in their own state or country.
7. A member's certified status may be reviewed annually by the Association's Board of Governors, who shall have the authority to revoke the same for non-participation and/or non-compliance with the Standards of Practice or Principles of Ethics.
8. In special circumstances, the Board of Governors shall have the discretion to waive the application of any of the above Certification Standards.

To maintain Certified status, Association members are expected to attend Annual Meetings regularly, contribute to Association publications, and remain actively engaged with fellow professionals in the field.

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IAHP Consensus Statement on Food Combining

Digestive health depends upon the following factors:

1. Eating when hungry, a diet of unrefined fruits and vegetables with the variable addition of whole grains, legumes, and nuts according to individual needs and capacities.
2. Avoiding overeating
3. Properly masticating food
4. Avoiding dietary irritants
5. Being relaxed at mealtime

Explicit food combining rules are not of primary or central importance in the practice of
Hygiene. They may be useful in helping people to avoid overeating. They may be useful in
the immediate post-fasting period and when digestive difficulties are present.
Food combining rules are not generally appropriate for children. Food combining should
not be seen as a strict and universal requirement for good health. The practice of Hygiene is
not fundamentally dependent upon food combining.
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Adopted by IAHP Board of Governors on 7/25/94

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​IAHP Consensus Statement on Vitamin B-12

The IAHP recognizes the superiority of a plant-based diet from the standpoint of both
optimum nutrition and disease prevention. A question may arise concerning Vitamin B-12
because plants do not manufacture this vitamin and the availability of that produced in the
intestines by bacteria is difficult to estimate. Although most vegetarians who eat a wide
variety of whole natural foods do not develop a problem with B-12, some individuals may.
Individual factors are undoubtedly very important.

Measuring the blood level of Vitamin B-12 is an inexpensive and practical way of
determining those at risk, so that appropriate dietary modifications can be initiated if
necessary.

Competent professional advice should be sought if problems or uncertainties arise
concerning B-12.

Adopted by the IAHP Board of Governors on 7/1/95