Getting It Wrong - canada.com's 'Charity of Logic' Regarding Naturopathy's Epistemic Irrationalism, 2009:

here, I cite a canada.com article that describes naturopathy...without blinking ... via an absurd / irrational definition [see 001., below]; and, going to the college guide entry and web page of 2 schools of naturopathy, we find out more UNBRIDLED naturopathic irrationalism / absurdity [see 002., below]:

001. Charke, K. (? ?) states in "Proposal to Alter Regulations for Naturopaths Gets Mixed Reviews" [there's quite an unintentional pun there, as you will see]:

"naturopathic medicine [(a)] is a distinct primary health care system that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine, according to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors [CAND...(b) is a] health profession [...] under the College of Naturopathic Physicians of B.C. [...(c)] when it comes to treatment, their objective is to try get the maximum effect by the gentlest of means with the use of botanical medicines and clinical nutrition [...(d) ] Trevorrow has completed a four-year postgraduate degree in naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University in Washington State."

Note on (a):

CAND tells us that naturopathy is categorically science-based [via youtube]:



How can something CATEGORICALLY in terms of knowledge-type be both a distinction and a blending? Important: the description basically says that naturopathy is both something and nothing; that it is specially something scientific and also that it is specifically NOT that same stuff -- nonscientific. In sum it states that the scientific is also the nonscientific: this is absurd / irrational, hilarious blather -- the blended-distinct, the scientific-nonscientific. This is a kind of language from naturopathy and a kind of journalistic charity towards naturopathy that is grossly unprofessional; using language itself in manners that are truly nonsensical, logically speaking.

002. Bastyr's & the University of Bridgeport's [UB] irrational / absurd epistemics, per the conflation of the supernatural extrascientific [that means 'outside of science', for those not into etymology], science-ejected, and the scientific:

002.a. Bastyr states [the ND in (d) went there; Trevorrow, M. (ND Bastyr 2006)] in their Peterson's College Guide entry "Bastyr University":

"founded as a naturopathic medical college in 1978, Bastyr has since expanded its offerings [...] Bastyr University is the first step on a path leading to a richly rewarding future in the dynamic field of science-based natural health. Bastyr's unparalleled programs are based on a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness, with a challenging curriculum that prepares students to further their goals in scientific, medical, and wellness-related fields [...] in each degree program at Bastyr, students learn to integrate the pursuit of physical health with the mental, spiritual, and environmental factors involved in wellness [...our] a progressive focus on the relationship between health and the body, mind, and spirit [...including] naturopathic medicine [...] the foundation of Bastyr University’s entire curriculum rests on the integration of modern science with traditional healing methods."

Note: epistemic blending / conflation / integration [mixing!!!] reflects directly upon naturopathy's 'knowledge sensitivity / knowledge demarcation': as in, 'we ain't got none', WHILE claiming to be "science-based" is itself a 'knowledge type demarcation'.

But, you have to have a standard of comparison concerning what can truly be labeled science, I understand:

luckily, there's the National Center for Science Education [NCSE] to tell us about these ND schools that supposedly teach actual science. At NCSE, we are told that the supernatural is PROFOUNDLY not within science, through the article "Review: Of Pandas and People":

"selling the supernatural. The book attempts to convince the student (and teacher) that a basically supernatural view can be made scientific through word manipulation and conflation with scientific concepts. Thus, the argument from design is dressed up in information theory and passed off as science. This selling of the supernatural is pertinent to understanding why this book is not science, but pseudoscience."

002.b. UB states:

002.b1. on their web page "UB Spotlight: Health Sciences Programs":

"the University's professionally accredited health sciences programs are housed in the Fones School of Dental Hygiene, the College of Chiropractic, the College of Naturopathic Medicine, the Acupuncture Institute, and the Nutrition Institute."

002.b2. UB states in "Naturopathic Principles and Practice":

"Principles and Practice 521: Introduction to Natural Therapeutics [...] nature acts powerfully through healing mechanisms in the body and mind to maintain and restore health. Students will receive a more in-depth utilization of naturopathic methods and medicinal substances which work in harmony with the human system, thus facilitating long-lasting health and recovery. In addition to employing various natural medicines, students will gain an important perspective of the vital force [for more such 'naturopathic essential vitalism', see here] and its role in the healing process, when used in conjunction with naturopathic principles."

Note on 002.a. & 002.b.: naturopathy is labeled categorically as "science" by UB & Bastyr, and naturopathy's essential vitalism & supernaturalism is therein labeled science by UB & Bastyr, while UB has conveniently edited-out supernaturalistic language in my example [they employ such supernaturalism here].

NCSE states, regarding vitalism, in "National Association of Biology Teachers (1995)":

"nonscientific notions such as geocentricism, flat earth, creationism, young earth, astrology, psychic healing and vitalistic theory, therefore, cannot legitimately be taught, promoted, or condoned as science in the classroom."

Note on (c): there is, scientifically speaking, no 'purposeful life spirit' / vital force governing health-disease and physiology. Naturopathy's treatment target, 'the maximum effect upon the vital force' -- when you uncode all this, which doesn't take much leg-work; but, few journalists ever seem to go beyond opening their own mouths and letting naturopathy fill it with its dumb-assed-ness -- is simply a fantasy.

003. Note on '(b), 002.a. & 002.b.' and naturopathic absurdity:

supernaturalism and vitalism are essential to naturopathy, labeled science by naturopathy, and yet are completely science-exterior -- actually. Obviously, canada.com incompletely informed us [lazy?] and naturopathy continually deceives us [per an 'unethical sectarian pseudoscience'], while actual medicine is ethically based upon the integrity of science & transparency per 'informed consent', and quality journalism aims for accuracy & truthfulness.

Questions:

i. does anyone do actual journalism anymore? ii. is science just ink? [answer to i. = few; answer to ii. = no it isn't].

Professional? Nope.

Bastyr University's 1986 Vegetarian Times Ad -- 23 Years (& Counting) of Naturopathic Pseudoscience:

here, I cite naturopathy's 'self-labeling as science' [see 001., below]; and then point out that naturopathy is self-defined preponderantly as centered around vitalism & supernaturalism [see 002. below]; and finally, I link to what science says preponderantly about vitalism & supernaturalism [see 003., below]:

001. Vegetarian Times (1986-09; p.109) has this Bastyr University ad, stating:

"Bastyr University is an internationally recognized independent university of natural health sciences [...per] the science of nature [...including their degree program in] naturopathic medicine."

Note: this 23 year-old statement is viewable now through books.google.com. I suggest the search > bastyr science date:1986-1986 <, specifying magazines. 12 years later, I began naturopathy school at the University of Bridgeport, particularly due to their labeling of their naturopathy doctorate as nonsectarian "health science."

002. the Federation of Naturopathic Physician Licensing Authorities states in "The Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine" :

"six principles of healing form the foundation for naturopathic medical practice: [#1] the healing power of nature. Vis medicatrix naturae. The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force [...] methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient's vital force, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process [...] symptoms [...] in fact [are] an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself [...] causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual [...] the physician must also make a commitment to his/her personal and spiritual development in order to be a good teacher [...] the whole organism [...is] a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors."

Note: the vitalistic and supernatural foundations / essential premises of naturopathy.

003. meanwhile:

vitalism is SERIOUSLY science-ejected;

supernaturalism is SERIOUSLY science-ejected.

Canada Gets It - 'Endorsing Naturopathy Rejects Science' - Caulfield, Becker, Elliott, Waserman, Denburg 2009:

here, I cite a recent Vancouver Sun article regarding naturopathy -- by Timothy Caulfield, Allan Becker, Susan Elliott, Susan Waserman and Judah Denburg -- which argues that 'turf is not the issue, it's actually about science':

001. "To Endorse Naturopathy Is To Reject Science: The Issues Between Medical Doctors and Naturopaths Go Beyond A Turf War"(2009-02-26):

"the naturopath issue [...per BC] officially endorsing and legitimizing a practice via government action [...] is not [...] a 'turf' war among professions [...e.g.] it is not [...] one set of health care professionals (medical doctors) trying to exclude another group [naturopaths...and] it is also not solely about choice [...] a much bigger issue is at play: what type of evidence are we as individuals, and as a society, going to consider in making health policy decisions? [...this issue concerns] the very nature of evidence and knowledge [...specifically] do we want a system based on scientific principles that can be counted on to be reproducible and predictable [modern medicine], or one based on anecdote and belief [{naturopathy}...because, truly] naturopathy still resides on the fringes of conventional scientific inquiry [and that's generous!]. In fact, it is often held up as the archetypical anti-science practice [{that's more like it!}...] the practice of medicine is based on science, not on a particular immutable faith or worldview [naturopathy's belief system / dogmatic 'science-ejected / -unsupported ideology']. Yes, there are issues with the practice of medicine, but since it is based on science it is capable of changing, evolving and defining best practice for all of our benefit. If naturopathy were held to the same generalizable scientific principles would naturopathic schools be teaching homeopathy and naturopathic manipulation? No [...] we simply need to ask if the B.C. government has made an explicit decision to drift further from the use of scientific principles in its assessment of health care."

002. for starters, for the uninitiated:

one nonscientific principle of naturopathy is its essential vitalism.

Naturopathy's [false] Superscience / Science-experise Claim - Burnett & Burnett (NDs Bastyr) 2009:

here, I cite the 'science-expertise' words of two NDs regarding their naturopathy education [see 001.a., below]; and then show how this claim is completely bogus [see 002., below]; with emphasis that the 'math of the sCAM' is obvious:

001. NDs Burnett, M. (ND Bastyr 2003) and Burnett, R. (ND Bastyr 2004) state in "Naturopathic Medicine":

001.a. naturopathy's science-expertise / superscience position:

"naturopathic physicians (NDs) are the highest trained practitioners in the broadest scope of naturopathic medical modalities [...having studied] the basic medical sciences [...] naturopathic medicine [...is a] science [...] naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and determine its practice. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances [...our methods include the] scientific [...we study] the same basic sciences as an M.D. [...] naturopathic medical education comparative curricula [...per the] curriculum directory of the Association of American Medical Colleges [...] basic and clinical sciences [comparison...] NCNM: 1543; Bastyr: 1639; JH: 1771; YL: 1420; ST: 1383 [...] naturopathic medicine [...is] as new as the latest discoveries in biochemical sciences [...we have] an ongoing commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research [...] naturopathic philosophy serves as the basis for naturopathic practice."

Note: NDs claim that the principles of naturopathy -- their basis -- survive scientific scrutiny [are scientific], and that overall, NDs have 'science expertise', as measured by 'science course hours' GREATER than many Ivy League MD programs. Science, science, science!!!

001.b. in this same web document, these NDs also state -- after having stated that naturopathy's principles survive scientific scrutiny -- the PRIMARY premise of naturopathy, per:

"naturopathic principles: [#1] the healing power of nature - vis medicatrix naturae [HPN-VMN]: naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing ability in the body that is ordered and intelligent [...] this healing ability [...#3] stimulate the healing power of nature: support the bodies [sp., body's] natural healing mechanisms [...] homeopathic medicine [...] works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level [!!!], gently acting to strengthen the body's healing and immune response [BHIR]."

Note: though this is naturopathy's central premise, nowhere on this page is an ACTUAL / TRANSPARENT definition of naturopathy's central premise given -- in CONTEXT. Instead, these NDs choose to CODE vitalism in other-than-honest language.

002. HPN-VMN-BHIR is, truly and essentially -- in context, as honestly expressed -- the science-ejected premise of vitalism [life force, vital force, chi / qi, dynamis, prana etc.]:

so, you ARE NOT being INFORMED HONESTLY and by no means scientifically, while these NDs state on this web page that they have studied "ethics" in addition to their supposed EXTREME science-expertise.

003. the math:

naturopathy is a complete sCAM in stating that 'the vitalistic [coded] science-ejected' is scientific!!!

Note: what's interesting too is the complete lack of the term "spirit" on this web page, since spiritism is an essential naturopathic principle.

Honesty, on the other hand, appears optional.

Natural Medicine: The Nonscientific Mislabeled as Science -- Bastyr University via SPI, 2008-10-26:

here, I cite 'a clinician-graduate journalistically, scientifically, & academically representing Bastyr University' [Seattle Post Intelligencer, BU- BCNH respectively] whose mutual claim is that the body is governed by a "life energy" [vital force, qi] and that such survives scientific scrutiny [see 001.a. & 001.b., below]; while, truly, such a figment is actually PROFOUNDLY scientifically-ejected [see note for 001.b., below]; so, I warn the public about bad-science per BU nonsense / antiscience, and bad-journalism per SPI nonsense, in this light:

001. 'scientific qi' nonsense:

001.a. Bastyr University's Kaiser, C. (M.S.A.O.M. Bastyr, L.Ac. WA -- "resident at Bastyr Center for Natural Health") states in the Seattle Post Intelligencer's "Improving Digestion With Traditional Chinese Medicine":

"traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes [...] the proper amount and flow of qi, or life energy, constitute[sp., s] the foundation of health, according to TCM [and naturopathy overall]. Digestive complaints are signs of imbalance, commonly due to either insufficient qi or a compromised flow of qi. Poor diet or working too much can lead to too little qi, while stress is a common cause of improperly flowing qi. Acupuncture is a technique used in TCM that utilizes hair-thin needles inserted at precise locations to manipulate the body's qi and remove blockages, allowing it to flow more freely. Clinically, acupuncture successfully alleviates many digestive complaints by increasing your body's digestive energy [{pretty extreme-a-claim for this placebo-level treatment modality!!!}...and, we are assured] nonprofit, accredited Bastyr University (bastyr.edu) offers multiple degrees in the natural health sciences, and clinical training at Bastyr Center for Natural Health (bastyrcenter.org) the region's largest natural medicine clinic."

Note: their logic is that "qi or life energy" is within TCM is within natural health is within natural medicine is within natural health sciences. Overall, the claim is that qi is within 'the scientific.' Hmmm: that's science-illiterate [see note for 001.b., below]!!!

001.b. BU's BCNH directly tells us at their web page in "Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine":

"the basis of acupuncture is an energy force known as qi (roughly pronounced 'chee'). A person’s health is influenced by the flow of this energy, or qi, in the body. If the flow of qi is insufficient, unbalanced or interrupted, illness may occur. Qi travels throughout the body along pathways called 'channels.' The acupuncture points are specific locations where the channels are accessible and where qi is easily directed by the placement of needles, moxibustion or acupressure. Acupuncture is used to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang, keep the normal flow of qi unblocked, and maintain or restore health."

Note: yet, back in reality, we find that such 'qi' vitalism is TRULY & profoundly science-ejected.

002. Kaiser's BU-BCNH CV states in "Our Providers":

"Ms. Kaiser holds a bachelor's and master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Bastyr University and is a member of the Washington Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association and the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine."

Note: she is through and through, 'of Bastyr'!

003. the status of science at Bastyr [anything is science nonsense!]:

003.a. you should note that Bastyr's mission statement conflates the scientific and the nonscientific and then falsely labels the whole thing science, as clearly stated in "Bastyr University" by "Acupuncture Today":

"[an ad] Bastyr University's goal is to be the world's leading academic center for advancing knowledge in the natural health sciences. Its mission is to educate future leaders in natural health sciences that integrate [blend, conflate] mind, body, spirit and nature [with 'nature' roughly being a coding of naturopathy's 'central vitalistic premise'...] Bastyr University offers degrees in naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine, nutrition, herbal sciences, health psychology, and exercise science and wellness [...and per our SPI author, a] Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MSAOM)."

Note: caution! When you do the math, science has no meaning when used as a label by this institution because, clearly, Bastyr does not make the normal distinctions that the community of scientists do to distinguish between what science contains and supports [and that's a rigorous, continuous, collective assessment process] and what science has ejected and does not support [like the dogmatic vitalisms and supernaturalisms of antiscientific sectarian medical systems like TCM and naturopathy!].

In fact, Bastyr has set as its goal the eradication of such SANE epistemic delineation -- which I call "the epistemic conflation of a school of thought claiming to be scientific" -- while actual science:

a) rejects & does not support vitalisms;

b) rejects & does not support supernaturalisms.

004. this is a bait and switch, comprised of, in this example:

pseudojouralism [for the professional standards of excellent journalism, visit SPJ];

pseudoscience [for the professional standards of modern scientific medicine, visit AIM];

academic dishonesty [for an example of such, visit Wikipedia].

Decoding Naturopathy's Essential Vitalism - Johns Hopkins University via OBNE 2009:

here, I demonstrate how inadequate explanations of naturopathic medicine usually are, even by such an esteemed institution as Johns Hopkins University [JHU; see 001., below]; and using the State of Oregon [SO] as a key to decode what JHU opaquely offers -- even though SO is SO wrong about the scientific status of vitalism [!!!] -- we can see that naturopathy is in fact based upon vitalism, a profoundly science-ejected concept [see 002., below]:

001. JHU states in "A Career in Naturopathic Medicine":

"the six fundamental principles of naturopathic medicine [include #1] the healing power of nature [HPN]. Trust in the body’s inherent wisdom to heal itself."

Note: and that is all that is said about that! Nowhere is naturopathy's HPN context, as truly defined within naturopathy per the science-ejected concept of 'a purposeful life spirit bioagency', honestly expressed -- in JHU's entire document! So, let's illuminate the premise: because, as happens with naturopathy -- galore -- we are not being adequately informed.

002. SO states in "Naturopathy":

"the healing power of nature. Vis medicatrix naturae. [This means for naturopathy that] the body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force [...per] the vitalistic tradition of medicine [...wherein] methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient’s vital force [...aka] the body’s innate healing response [...wherein] symptoms [...] in fact [are] an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself [...and] these principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis."

Note: so, we get a half-truth from SO, in that HPN is basically vitalism. Yet, SO claims this concept survives scientific scrutiny, which is PROFOUNDLY not true.

003. in sum:

each institution is an accessory to naturopathy's deception, just in different ways:

occult vitalism per 001.,

absurd pseudoscience per 002.

The Science-Ejected Vitalism of Bridgeport Hospital 2009:

001. Bridgeport Hospital [CT] states in "Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Chinese Medicine":

"traditional Chinese medicine is thousands of years old and has changed little over the centuries [sounds scientific!!!]. As a complete system of healthcare, Chinese medicine's basic concept is that a vital force of life surges through the body (also called qi). Any imbalance to this life force can cause disease and illness, according to Chinese medicine [superstition!]. The imbalance, in turn, is caused by an imbalance in the opposite and complementary forces that make up the life force, called yin and yang. To regain balance, the belief [quite appropriate a label; better yet, 'misbelief'] is that the balance between the internal body organs and the external elements of earth, fire, water, wood, and metal must be adjusted [quite neolithic!]. Treatment to regain balance may involve: acupuncture, moxibustion (the burning of herbal leaves on or near the body), cupping (the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain points of the body), massage, herbal remedies, movement and concentration exercises (such as tai chi)."

Note: TCM's essential premise is that physiology is controlled by "vital force of life" = "qi" = "life force" = "yin and yang" = "belief" which their therapies influence.

002. meanwhile, such vitalism is profoundly science-ejected. Qi simply does not exist, never mind influencing it.

Note: why doesn't Bridgeport Hospital mention that [hint: $$$]?

Aren't they therein violating a premise that overarches all of modern medicine: informed consent?

The Academic Ethos of Phi Beta Kappa, & the Absurdity of UB Naturopathy - 2009:

here, I compare two aspects of my personal history: my Phi Beta Kappa 'ethical obligation', so to speak [see 001., below]; and what I know about the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine's 'academic absurdity' [see 002., below]; and finally a warning [see 003., below]:

001. the Phi Beta Kappa Society states in "About PBK":

"Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. The Society sponsors activities to advance these studies — the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences — in higher education and in society at large [...it is] the nation's oldest and most widely known academic honor society [...PBK's motto is] 'love of learning is the guide of life' [...it was] founded December 5, 1776 [...and] for over two and a quarter centuries, the Society has embraced the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of thought and expression [...and] personal freedom, scientific inquiry, liberty of conscience and creative endeavor."

Note: I was inducted 1994-05-04 at the City University of New York's Lehman College.

002. meanwhile, academic naturopathy -- pathologically, deceptively: in a most unexcellent, antiscientific and absurd manner -- at the University of Bridgeport:

claims that the profoundly nonscientific vitalistic sectarian

[e.g., 2006-2008 catalog, p.291: "students will gain an important perspective of the vital force and its role in the healing process"]

survives scientific scrutiny [they categorize such as nonsectarian "science"]!

Perhaps UB's motto should be: 'deception is the guide of naturopathy', because such sectarian vitalism has been profoundly science-ejected minimally for several decades.

I attended UB's ND program 1998-2002, and complaints are on file with the relevant overseers.

003. warning:

003.a. if you are a free-thinker:

"freethinkers strive to build their beliefs on the basis of facts, scientific inquiry, and logical principles, independent of any factual/logical fallacies or intellectually-limiting effects of authority, cognitive bias, conventional wisdom, popular culture, prejudice, sectarianism [!!!], tradition, urban legend, and all other dogmatic or otherwise fallacious principles. As such, when applied to religion, the philosophy of freethought holds that, given presently-known facts, established theories, and logical principles, there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of supernatural phenomena";

003.b. and believe in "liberty of thought":

"freedom of thought (also called freedom of conscience and freedom of ideas) is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others' viewpoints. It is closely related to, yet distinct from, the concept of freedom of expression";

003.c. and are inquiring per "freedom of inquiry",

003.d. and you are attempting to fulfill that PBK ethos of 'scientific and philosophical excellence':

beware of the absurdity known as naturopathy, an 'unethical sectarian pseudoscience.'