FSM, MJA, and 'Naturopathy is Pseudoscience': Three 2012-03-04 Australian Web Sources

here, I cite reporting concerning the recent editorial by MacLennan and Morrison in the Medical Journal of Australia [MJA] from ninemsn.com.au [see 001., below], news.com.au [see 002.,below], theconversation.edu.au [see 003.,below], and my own US addition!!! [see 004., below]: 

001. ninemsn.com.au [which claims to reach "67 percent of Australia's online population"] states in "Pseudoscience Harming Unis: Journal" (2012-03-04)[vsc 2012-03-04]:

"pseudoscientific health courses are undermining the credibility of Australian universities, according to an editorial in a leading medical journal [...] the Medical Journal of Australia [...] the professors say federal funding is wasted on universities that support pseudoscience health courses [...] courses that lack scientific credibility [...such as] homeopathy, iridology, reflexology, kinesiology, healing touch therapy, aromatherapy and energy medicine [...] in an effort to counter the growth of pseudoscience in medicine, hundreds of scientists, clinicians, academics, consumer advocates and organizations have joined the Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM) [...they've] written to all Australian universities about its concerns [...regarding] the scientific basis of their courses [...and] they call on all tertiary institutions to review their health-science teaching. 'Their scientists and students should be concerned by any retreat from the primacy of experimental, evidence-based approach in science and medicine' [...] 'anatomists cannot be asked to support the validity of the meridian channels of acupuncture, pharmacologists cannot advocate, without evidence of efficacy, the use of herbal and homeopathic medicines to naturopaths [!!!], and physiologists cannot be asked to explain mythical subluxation theory to chiropractic students'."

Note: hear, hear.  Keep in mind that though naturopathy is mentioned, all the therapies and their requisite ideas which I've highlighted above are commonly done by naturopaths.  In that sense, naturopaths are the generalists of sCAM.

002. news.com.au [who claim to be "the number 1 publisher of news [...reaching] around 7.7 million people per month"] states in "It's Just Not Scientific Enough Says Journal" (2012-03-04)[vsc 2012-03-04]:

"[pretty much repeats the above article, but adds] the professors say federal funding is wasted on universities that support pseudoscience health courses. The editorial has shocked Professor Kerryn Phelps, former president of the Australian Medical Association and the current president of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association. "What really has the potential to undermine the international credibility of the Australian medical profession is the publication of such a deeply biased, unchallenged and divisive editorial [...] it is an insult [...] Australia will lose all international credibility unless these modalities are included."

Note: wow, quite an embarrassing sCAM apologist AMA / AIMA has there!  Loving it.  See, I'd argue that the FSM piece IS BIASED!!!  It favors science, critical thinking, and rationality instead of pseudoscience, gullibility / credulity, and irrationality!!!  Really: including iridology in modern medicine is QUITE THE INSULT to all of humankind.  Just simply WOW!  I'll touch back on the money aspect in 004., below. 

003. the Conversation ["an independent source of information, analysis and commentary from the university and research sector"] states in "Pseudosciences are Destroying the Reputation of Australia’s Universities" (2012-03-04)[vsc 2012-03-04]:

"the international credibility of Australia’s universities is being undermined by the increase in the 'pseudoscientific' health courses they offer, two academics have written in today’s edition of the Medical Journal of Australia [...they are] Alastair MacLennan [...and] Robert Morrison [...there they] write that academics at universities which teach courses such as homeopathy, iridology, reflexology, kinesiology, healing touch therapy, aromatherapy and energy medicine need to 'stand up for science' [...that] 'pseudoscientific courses sully the genuinely scientific courses and research conducted at the same institutions. Their scientists and students should be concerned by any retreat from the primacy of an experimental, evidence-based approach in science and medicine' [...they are part of] the Friends of Science in Medicine [..who are] dedicated to fighting the growth of pseudoscience in medicine [...and who] wrote a letter to every vice-chancellor in Australia asking for a review of their health science courses to 'ensure that primacy is given to scientific principles based on experimental evidence' [...examples include] a Graduate Certificate in Medical Acupuncture at Monash University, a Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture and Chinese Manual Therapy) at RMIT University [...] Canberra Institute of Technology: Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy [...] Southern Cross University: Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (majors in complementary medicine, naturopathy, osteopathy) [...] University of Western Sydney: Bachelor of Applied Science (Naturopathic Studies); Graduate Diploma in Naturopathy [...] the National Herbalist Association of Australia has also denounced the campaign to pressure universities and health funds to reject complementary medicine. Association President Leah Hechtman [a naturopath!] said that naturopathic and Western herbal medicine practitioners should be integrated into the healthcare system.  'To achieve this, we need to increase our evidence base which requires university training. Without university training, research opportunities for practitioners and complementary medicines will reduce. To exclude naturopathic and Western herbal medicine courses from undergraduate or post graduate programs at Australian Universities is irresponsible.'"

Note: I'll touch again on what's irresponsible in 004., below.  So much of what's being call pseudoscience is in fact so implausible and mythic that Hechtman is basically calling for the need for researching the characteristics of magic beans and unicorn tears.

004.  my United States addition:

well, I got ripped off [minimally, money via US Federal Loans I now owe for the rest of my life] in quite an irresponsible [I actually prefer the word, minimally, 'criminal'] way.

so, here's a school [vsc 2012-03-04] labeling naturopathy, its homeopathy and acupuncture, and chiropractic "health science."  This bogus science claim is even recorded at Wikipedia [vsc 2012-03-04]. It's the school I went to for an ND that I ceased out of disgust and abuse. What's interesting is that all these graduate programs were created after 1990, approximately.  And it seems immune from the racket they have going on: science subset science-ejected or -unsupported [aka pseudoscience].  Here are some of my class-notes from back in the day!  Here is the current North American naturopathy board exam claiming over all of naturopathy's nonsense, including homeopathy, "science."

Appendage:

there is also The Australian's "Quackery Disguised as Science Harming Unis" (2012-03-04) [vsc 2012-03-04] which has a nice iridology chart included with the article.

Changelog 2012-03-04 & ND Video

here, I summarize this week's additions to my public naturopathy database.  I also link to an ND video each changelog, quote from, and tag the video in some detail:

001. added:

the vitalism of:

*ND Streich to Appendix B.05.i.i.03.;

ND Smith, M. to Appendix B.05.i.i.02.;

North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians to Appendix B.03.;
ND Tam to Appendix B.05.i.k.;

the science claims of:

*ND Streich to Appendix I.05.o.;

ND Said to Appendix I.05.o.;

ND Saine to Appendix I.05.o.;

ND SaltPaw to Appendix I.05.o.;
ND Brustoski to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Brown to  to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Branter  to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Jahn to Appendix I.05.h.;
ND Jensen to Appendix I.05.h.;
ND Johnson to Appendix I.05.h.;
ND Jones, A. to Appendix I.05.h.;
ND Jones, D.D. to Appendix I.05.h.;
NDs Bachewich, Beatty, Hembroff, Klemm, Leppelmann, Morden, Storm to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Bethune to Appendix I.05.b.;
 NDs Born, Jones, Stagg, Yimoyines to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Brady to Appendix I.05.b.;
ND Branin to Appendix I.05.b.;

*ND Streich is an interesting microcosm of the whole 'absurdity' aspect of naturopathy: claiming naturopathy is "firmly science-based" yet invoking qi, practicing homeopathy and Unda detoxification for a host of pathologies.;

the vitalism is debunked claims of:

Cahen, D. (PhD NU) and Ginley, D.S. (PhD MIT) to Appendix C.06.b.;

the 'naturopathy is pseudoscience and quackery' claim of:

The Atlantic to Appendix K.07.;

[they also published "A Conversation With David Friedman, Doctor of Naturopathy" in 2011,

by the way, which I thought was TRASH];

002. video of the week link [not to pun]:

the "vital force" 2011 Australian naturopathic movie by Carlos I. Urdiales Salazar ND, currently on Youtube, as "Vital Force Documentary, Rediscovering Health the Natural Way" [saved 2012-02-26; the trailer is here; my tags and excerpts follow the embed link below]:

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#BHSc(Naturopathy) #BHSc(Nat) #iridology #pseudoscience #Australianaturopathy

#homeopathy #evicencebasednonsense #pseudohistory #orgone #pseudobiology

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According the ND Salazar, the NDs in this film are:

"Amie Steel ND [...] Christine Sinclair N.D. [...] Randa Karzon N.D. [...] David Casteliejn N.D. [...] John Bartlett N.D. [...] Justin Sinclair N.D. [...] Spero Tsindos  N.D. [...] Carlos I. Urdiales Salazar N.D. [...who have on average the degree] BHSc(Naturopathy) [...or] BHSc(Nat) [...or] BHSc(Naturopathy / Nutritional Medicine) [...and such things as] Dip Homeopathy [...] Adv Dip Nat [...] MApplSc(Acu) [...and use such things as] naturopathic diagnostic tools (iridology, nail and tongue analysis) [...and we're told stuff like] I use iridology as part of the initial assessment to gain an insight into the overall functioning of the major body systems and their inter-relationships [per Casteliejn, also said here)...and who speak of such things as] evidence-based naturopathic practice [...] evidence-based clinical practice principles [...and] evidence-based textbooks."

Note: NDs Steel, Casteliejn, and J. Sinclair [who has a "bachelor of health science (naturopathy) with the University of New England" -- therein the claim science subset naturopathy], practice together here.  I believe this is a picture of iridology in process there. ND Steel [and here] sells an "Embrace Holistic Services Homeopathic Birthing Kit" and claims overall science subset naturopathy [vsc both 2012-02-28]; ND Karzon informs us NDs have a "science degree" [saved 2012-02-28].

I am hoping I haven't wrongly attributed a little of what's below.  If so, someone let me know and I'll check it and correct it -- though I'm not really particularly looking forward to watching this ]archived] nuttiness again [my notes are in unquoted bold]:

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"[Carlos I. Urdiales Salazar ND, shown in a white lab coat with a stethoscope, mentions naturopathy's principles including] the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) [...and asks] is herbal medicine scientific? [...] the aspect that amazed me the most and the whole reason I decided to jump and dive into this topic is that common denominator, that mysterious concept that you can find in every traditional medicine system throughout history [...] this concept [...] pneuma [...] chi [...] ki [...] prana [...] chulel [...] sekem [...] orgone [...a concept] widely used in the world of traditional alternative medicine [...] today it is called vital force [...] this entity [...] what exactly is the vital force?  [...]";

so there we go, a bunch of synonyms for naturopathy's basic concept: HPN = VMN = CD = P = C = K = P = C =S = O = VF = TE = VF!

Justin Sinclair, ND:

"[who has the most ANNOYING set of finger and thumb rings I've ever seen...says vital force is] different for every person  [...] imagine [...] an engine [...needs petrol which] animates the structure [...] without the vital force it [the human body] would not be animated [...and speaks of] the ancient alchemist [...who regarded]  the life force or vital force that animates the physical body [...] when the vital force leaves the body that's when death occurs [...] it is life [...] he gave up the ghost, the vital force that animated the body had left, and therefore the body had died [...] vitality [...]";

so, there are more synonyms: VF = LF = L = G = V.  The emphasis on "anim" reminds me of the lineage of the idea: animism, animatism etc.;

"[he continues] it's not something that can be quantified [...] just because you can't prove it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist [...]";

ah, yes.  That 'I know about it though no measures are possible.'  So, genius, how do you know about it?  Simple: you don't KNOW about it, you imagine it.  By the way, in stating the esoteric / mystical nature of this 'healing power of nature', it therefore is quite improper to label it 'energy'.  Energy is a scientific concept: quantified, existent.  The other aspect of vital force is simply this: there is no need for it to explain ANYTHING in biology!!!  It is a science-ejected archaic place-filler for actual knowledge that is arrived at through analysis;

"[he also asks] is herbal medicine scientific or nonscientific? [...] modern science [...] the scientific method, experimentation, double-blind placebo controlled studies [...] it might not have been to that standard [...yet] to think that science didn't come about until the scientific revolution is nonsense and anyone that tells you this is foolish [...]";

so, this ND who poses in the film that cave men and dinosaurs were coexistent is going to lecture us about the history of science!  So, the actual development of science is annulled, and we're called fools for observing that until science actually came about -- which in truth is rather recent in human history -- what people knew was PRESCIENTIFIC.  How perverse.

"the same ideas, the same concepts that we still hold dear today in the scientific model have been used all the way since Aristotle, the Pythagoreans, and Hippocrates and all of these great minds.  They were scientific minds [...] Hippocrates separated disease from the gods [...via his] scientific method [...so] is it scientific or is it nonscientific?  It's both [...]";

and there we go: the science that is the nonscience actually that is science SOMETIMES.  This is how NDs think: they conflate, the present muddle dual statuses that are needlessly confused.  Simply put: until something is tested by the methods of modern science, it is not simply because you say so...scientific.

"the problem with science is that it has these blinkers on [...]";

yes, there are thing that science does not include.

"[and ironically we're told] there's no place for arrogance in healthcare [...]  I feel so sorry for our medical brethren [...] I can do whatever I want [...]";

hmmm.  Said the arrogant, condescending,  naturopath?

P. Spero Tsindos, ND:

"vital force is an intangible thing, really, but without it you are dead, and Hahnemann said that quite clearly in the Organon [...] this thing of animation [...] all the traditional therapies use that kind of underpinning [...] chi [...] prana [...] innate intelligence [...] in homeopathy what you are doing is you're stimulating the vital force.  The vital force is the thing that is supposed to maintain equilibrium in the body.  Homeostasis [...] you encourage the vital force, you stimulate the vital force to restore balance [...] homeopathy's a nudge [...] enough to stimulate the vital force [...] lo and behold it works";

so, there are more synonyms: VF = TA = C = P = II;

Amie Steel, ND:

"vital force is I guess the energy that infuses all living things.  It's a subtle energy force, it's not something that we have yet got the instruments that clearly measures very well [...] that's not to say it's not there [...from] a biological point of view, it creates that connection, that synergy between cells and allows them to coordinate together and all of that kind of stuff.  That's the vital force [...]";

actually, from a biological point of view it is unnecessary and particularly if it has been unmeasured, it ain't within the biological point of view at all;

 "[she continues] a naturopath I guess in what is the current training of naturopathy is a bachelor level of qualification they are trained as a health practitioner, in clinical medicine, disease, differential diagnosis, anatomy and physiology, all the fundamental basics required for them to be able to competently work with people in a health related area [...] the tools that are utilized [...include] herbal medicine [...] nutritional medicine [...] orthomolecular nutrition [...] iridology [...a] diagnostic tool [and they show an iris chart...] it's build upon this under-pining foundation of understanding the human body, human physiology and those sorts of things [...]";

NDs: highly trained in conflating science and nonsense, and marching on.  Competent????  IRIDOLOGY???;

John Bartlett, ND:

"[vital force is] that innate, internal, regulatory force which drives our spirit, our body, and our emotions and mental functioning [...] vitality, vital force -- you can't find vitality [...] Hippocrates [...] a vital force beyond the physical [...]";

yup.

"[and here's quite an admission] natural medicine has been dogged by a lot of myths and bogus pseudoscience over the years, there's no doubt about that -- and a lot of its deservedly so [...]";

with quite a self-satisfied smile.

Christine Sinclair, ND:

"when we use the concept of vital force this is a term that is synonymous with vitality, or energy, or spirit [...] chi [...] prana [...] life itself [...] energy [...]";

and there we are: spirit = dualistic figmentation.

David Casteleijn, ND:

"[regarding vital force] its very hard to put into words [...] that devalues it [...] words don't really do it justice [...]";

very SCIENTIFIC.

"there is a lot of evidence for things we do: the clinical naturopathy text that was recently published in 2010 [by Sarris and Wardle].  That text is significant evidence of the body of evidence there is to support what we do [...with] over 4000 references [he has a chapter in it...] there's plenty evidence out there [...paraphrasing Lesle Braun] 'for someone to say that there isn't evidence supporting what we do you either have to be not looking or you don't want to look because it is there' [...]";

quite the science claim.

Randa Karzon, ND:

"their vitality [...] energy [...] chi [...] this is where naturopaths specifically will actually hone in on the state of a person's vitality [...and a disease like] psoriasis [...apparently is due to someone being] repulsed at who they are [...their] negative thought [...] it manifests."

end of film notes.

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Changelog 2012-02-26 & ND Video

here, I summarize this week's additions to my public naturopathy database.  I also link to an ND's video each changelog, quote from, and tag the video in some detail:

001. added:

the vitalism of:

the University of Washington to Appendix B.01.c.;

 the Virginia Association of Naturopathic Physicians to Appendix B.03.;

the science claims of:

NUHS to Appendix I.01.a6.;

mildly revised

"Naturopathy's Electrodermal Screening [Pseudo]"Science" - Hopkins, C. (ND FNUN)";

002. video of the week link [not to pun]:

Illinois naturopath Tony Koufos in the approximately 30 minute video "Naturopath, Iridologist, Reflexologist, Dr." [vsc 2012-02-21; partial transcription is after the embed link]:

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Video streaming by Ustream

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#tonykoufos #ionicfootbath #reflexology #iridology #urinetherapy #naturalhealing

#rifemachine #reflexologyboots #hitler'schiefsurgeongeneral #parasites #lifeforces

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who states [my comments are in quote-less bold]:

"[from the description] Tony Koufos, ND [...will provide] information on naturopathic medicine treatments, alternative and complementary medicine and treatments for various diseases naturally with herbs, ionic foot baths to delete toxins, boots for pressure points and other modalities of natural methods of medicine for epilepsy, cancer, toxic illness etc. in Glendale Heights, Illinois, Homewood, Illinois and Lansing Illinois with Dr. Tony Koufos. Websites: Pathtonaturalhealth.com. Phone 630 637 8403 .219 696 5615. for info. or get info at Americantvproductions.com email: TonyKoufos@yahoo.com or asktvnurse@yahoo.com [...]";

yes, naturopathic medicine for DISEASES and ionic detox foot nonsense!

"[the video host Karon Gibson; KG] Dr. Tony Koufos [...is] a naturopath [...who will give today an] educational seminar on what he does as a naturopath doctor, on what he does as a reflexologist, on what he does as an iridologist [...]";

yes, three great woos: naturopathy reflexology, iridology!

"[TK, this is] how I got into natural healing [...] it started when I was about 6 years old [...] I was walking home from grade school [...] I fell off this fence and cut my leg [...] I went home and told my father [...]  and my dad, with a forth grade education from Europe took me in the bathroom and had me urinate in a little cup and [on] a little cotton ball [he] dabbed it in that open wound and took three band-aids and taped it shut [instead of stitches...this was] a friendlier way to solve a problem [...for] solving health issues [...]";

wow.  Simply WOW!  Wait: yuk too.

"[TK] I got into natural health [...] natural healing [...] reflexology [...] which is acupressure on the feet and acupressure on the hands [...and] ear [...relating to] all the organs in the body [...] naturopathy [...] naturopathic studies [...] body electronics [...]";

I'm wondering what body electronics he's talking about?  Perhaps Hulda Clark?  Rife?

"iridology [...] this particular wonderful science.  And its a science of the iris of the eye to see the neural reflexes to all the organs in the body.  Organs and systems.  And with that we can find out what's going on in the body.  What organs are under stress [...and] cell health [...it's] a common science throughout the world [...]";

ye old 'it is science' bullshit.

"when we look into the iris of the eye [...] you can see that many things in the iris of the eye [...] I applied the reflexology aspect with the iridology [...] I would look in the eye and see a lung issue then I would go to the foot to relate it to the person, to push on the area of the lungs which would be right about here on the plantar part of the foot [...] in most cases that particular reflex would be sensitive [...and he also uses] tongue analysis [...and] facial analysis [...and treats with herbs in] megadose [...]";

of course!

"anything that I do is not new.  Reflexology is in the physician's tomb in Egypt 2300 BC [...] nothing new under the sun [...] iridology has been around for centuries also [...and speaks of validation of iridology by way of] Hitler's chief surgeon general [...proving] the truth of iridology relating to the organs in the body [...]";

these are really NOT strong supports for this junk!

"when we read the iris of the eye we see how everything is doing  [...] a lot of things that have kind of been touted as not being solvable or curable worldwide are [...addressed and cured] naturally [...like] epileptic fits";

quite a promise.

"[and he mentions] parasites [...and] constipation [...and] reabsorbing toxins [...through the] colon [...and] fresh and raw [food...for] enzymes [...and] life forces";

of course, this is NATUROPATHY after all.

"[for] reflexology [...] I have developed a compression apparatus [...] these boots [...] in ten minutes its equivalent to a full hour of hand work [...] and some interesting vibrators [...to improve] nerve and blood supply";

an Edison!

"[KG] you also have a Rife machine [...TK] yes [...to treat by] frequency [...KG] you also have an ionic foot bath that can take toxins out of your system [...TK] yes and that actually will help to draw out toxins [...for] a detox through the feet [...KG] this is natural healthcare";

Note: will I ever be able to TOP this video?

University of Bridgeport Naturopathy Recruitment Advertising 2012 - I-95 Orange, CT

Just happened to notice this on I-95 here in Connecticut today:

Note: knowing all I know about the absurdity of naturopathy, I'm not sure how a student-customer-consumer builds a healthy future within the false posture of 'science subset health science subset naturopathy subset clinical science subset NONSCIENCE / SCIENCE-EJECTED'.  Sounds more like the naturopathillogical!

Not the best picture, but I did shoot it at night from a distance.  Add it to the collection!