The Absurdity of Naturopathy PPPs - Jones, D. (ND UBCNM):

here, I cite a recent article written by Jones, D. (ND UBCNM) informing us of AANP naturopathy's new self-labeling / coinage per "primary prevention professionals" [see 001., below], what I consider to be another naturopathic false self-definition [see note to 001., below]; and I cite an earlier, similar, false self-definition / coinage [see 002., below] and parse that out with other internal ND sources to reveal the actual context of naturopathy's science-ejected central premise [see note to 002., below]; and yet, AANP's new, revised language regarding the central premises of naturopathy -- their new self-labeling / coinage -- is STILL and FURTHERMORE completely nontransparent / coded / deceptive / false [see 003., below]:

001. Jones, D. (ND UBCNM) states in "Naturopathic Physicians are Primary Prevention Professionals"{2009-05-07}:

"the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians [AANP], our national organization, sponsors a [...] DC federal Legislative Initiative [{lobbying campaign}...] during the first weekend of May [...] each year it is wonderful to get the opportunity to educate our law-makers and their staff on [...] naturopathic medicine [...there's] a shortage of general care professionals [...] we are trained to fill those exact positions [as if!]. Not only are naturopathic physicians trained in general care, we are always stressing the importance of prevention through education, lifestyle and behavioral change [...therefore,] we have coined the phrase primary prevention professionals [{PPPs}...] Dr. Dae [...] is a naturopathic physician who completed her training at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine."

Note: obviously, "professional" is a self-label that naturopaths use frequently. I have previously pointed out that the nontransparency / explicit untruthfulness of naturopathy's self-definitions are antithetical to professionalism's ethical doctrine of 'credat emptor': e.g., "Undermining Professionalism - 'Caveat Emptor' per Naturopathy - Perle et al. & UW, UB & ISBN 1741140544".

002. I have seen such false self-labellings by AANP naturopathy before, wherein naturopathy is falsely categorized to lawmakers and the public [they snookered me]:

002.a. SCNM, Bastyr, NCNM and AANP -- in this 1999 archived example "The Alliance Legislative Workbook" [ALW] {ten years of such fraud in my life, and counting} -- stated per an intention "to educate our law-makers and their staff" and the public:

"we ask for your [legislators'] careful scrutiny. Be demanding with us [...] naturopathic physicians are the modern day science based primary care doctor [...] it is not a belief system."

002.b. but, and I went to ND school so I know, naturopathy is a belief system that is in fact nonscientific:

002.b1. ALW was 1999. Atwood, K.C. (MD) states in "Naturopathy: A Critical Appraisal: The Naturopathic Belief System"{2003-12-30}:

"naturopathic beliefs -- including those of 'naturopathic physicians' -- are rooted in vitalism, the pre-20th-century assertion that biological processes do not conform to universal physical and chemical principles. Naturopaths describe [this per] a 'healing power of nature'."

002.b2. and, as NCNM's Meletis, C.D. (ND NCNM? 1992-ish) states in OHSU's "Oregon CAM Course at OHSU"{2004-ish?} [archived by WBM since 2005]:

"[per] '10 Vocabulary Words Used In Naturopathic Medicine As Defined by Chris D. Meletis, N.D.' [{the 2003-2004 AANP ND of the Year, by the way - see ISBN 0275983943}...term] vis medicatrix naturae - simply defined as the healing power of nature. It speaks to the belief that the body has been instilled with the innate ability to heal. It is thus the goal of the physician to support and bolster the vital force [...] vis medicatrix naturae -- 'the healing power of nature' [...] one of the central themes of naturopathic philosophy today [...term] vital force - the inherent ability of the body to heal and regain life sustaining homeostasis. An individual’s ability to heal is dependent upon the quantity of vital force present at the time of onset and during the course of an illness. The greater the vital force the more able the body is to heal with minimal external intervention [...] if a host subject is well nourished and possesses sufficient vital force, they can be exposed to a pathogen and shall not get ill [...and of course we're told] naturopathic physicians are trained at accredited, four-year, post-graduate, residential naturopathic medical programs. [Claim:] the training consists of comprehensive study of the conventional medical sciences."

Note: vitalism, vitalism, vitalism - claimed to be within science.

Meletis, additionally, has been the Dean of Naturopathic Medicine at NCNM and such, as he relates:

"Dr. Meletis' extensive experience as a Dean and Chief Medical Officer for the NCNM, the oldest four-year post baccalaureate school of naturopathic medicine, makes him uniquely qualified to guide the IHA in its mission of empowering and educating individuals on the scientifically and clinically relevant steps essential to the healthy aging process [...per] teaching the science of healthy aging [...] Dr. Meletis also has served as the Chief Medical Officer and Dean of Naturopathic Medicine for the NCNM for seven years and subsequently served as the NCNM's Senior Science Officer."

Specifically, naturopathy claims to be a branch of medical science, but, that's nonsense / absurd -- minimally in light of their vitalistic 'central theme' -- as I have previously pointed out: e.g., "Naturopathy: Science by Mislabel, Vitalism By Oath, Diagnosis by Woo -- Pincott, I. (ND NCNM 1985)". What are we, all to be considered as idiots? Vitalism is profoundly science-ejected.

003. currently, AANP states in "What is Naturopathic Medicine":

"naturopathic medicine is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability [{coded vitalism}...] naturopathic physicians base their practice on six timeless principles founded on medical tradition and scientific evidence [{science claim}...#1] let nature heal. Our bodies have such a powerful, innate instinct for self-healing. By finding and removing the barriers to this self-healing -- such as poor diet or unhealthy habits -- naturopathic physicians can nurture this process [coded vitalism]."

Note: hmmm, in 1999 naturopathy was not a belief system, yet in 2009 it is 'belief based'. Obviously, the above current 2009 AANP language is a coding for their vitalistic belief, as directly expressed by Meletis in that 2004-ish OHSU document AS A BELIEF!

004. in sum:

PPP's? Scientific? Educators?

Don't you believe them - caveat emptor.

ND D'Adamo's New Supplement Store - For Premises That Are Not Scientifically Supported:

here, I quote from a recent press release from D'Adamo incorporated, who has opened a retail store based upon his 'theories' [see 001., below]; and, I quote from reputable sources regarding the nonscientific status of those 'diet blood-type / diet genotype' premises and therapeutics [see 002., below]:

001. a press release by D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition states in "D'Adamo Personalized Nutrition Store To Open in Wilton":

"the D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition Store guides the shopper in understanding why blood type matters for health and weight loss [...] Dr. Peter D’Adamo, a second-generation naturopathic physician and international author, whose books have been translated into over 65 languages has written the New York Times best seller, 'Eat Right for Your Type' and the Blood Type Diet [ERFYBT / BTD] series of books. He is also the author of 'The GenoType Diet' [TGTD], the first book that examines the possibilities of epigenetics and the use of diet and nutrition to profoundly alter gene function."

002. what reputable sources say about the ERFYBT / BTD and TGTD:

002.a. the Mayo Clinic states in "Is There Any Merit to the Blood Type Diet?" by Zeratsky, K. (RD ?, LD ?):

"there's no scientific evidence to support the so-called 'blood type diet,' in which different diets are recommended based on a person's blood type. At this time, eating or avoiding certain foods according to your blood type isn't thought to have any favorable influence on weight or overall health. In fact, a 'blood type diet' may not meet your nutritional needs."

002.b. Time Magazine states in "The Genotype Diet":

"naturopathic physician and researcher D'Amamo [sp., D'Adamo] has identified six 'genotypes': the Hunter, the Gatherer, the Teacher, the Explorer, the Warrior, and the Nomad. [Quoting D'Adamo:] 'yes, your genotype is the product of the genes you inherited from your family, but it's also the result of your prenatal experience.' In analyses that sound a bit like horoscopes ('explorers who maintain a detoxifying diet that also nourishes the blood and bone marrow will have few health problems and usually will have very little trouble attaining a healthy weight'), the author gives food dos and don'ts for each genotype. If there's anything scientifically sound about any of this, we haven't seen the signs."

003. caveat emptor!

On Acupuncture - Novella vs. Wiesner 2009-05:

here, I cite three recent web pages regarding acupuncture representing two positions hugely at odds: Yale academic neurologist Novella, S. (MD) and "natural medicine" practitioner Wiesner, A. (ND). The former states that the science indicates acupuncture doesn't work [see 001., below], the latter, that it's amazing [see 002., below] and that the completely science-ejected is in fact scientific [see 003., below]:

001. Novella, S. (MD GUSM) states in "More on Acupuncture" :

"what the evidence tells us so far is that is does not matter if or where you stick acupuncture needles. These are the two variables specific to acupuncture. Therefore, acupuncture does not work. The ritual surrounding the use of acupuncture likely has some non-specific effects, and there are the usual biases and artifacts that constitute placebo effects. But acupuncture itself appears to be worthless. There is no other rational interpretation of existing evidence, despite all the misdirections of proponents who are trying to turn scientific logic on its head [...] scientific conclusion - it does not matter where or even if you stick the needles, i.e. acupuncture does not work [...in sum,] it doesn’t work. Give it up. Move on."

Note: this is hugely at-odds with what follows.

002. Wiesner, A. (ND UBCNM, LAc UBCNM):

002.a. is written about and quoted in "Naturopathic Physician Employs Acupuncture in Her Practice", as reported by Czaplinski, K. (? ?):

"naturopathic, or natural, medicine acknowledges that the body has an innate ability to heal itself with the right direction [{IATHI; more on this coding in my n01., below}...] Dr. Wiesner, who has a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and is a licensed acupuncturist [...and is] a faculty physician at the University of Bridgeport Naturopathic Medical Clinic [...has] studied the human body in a modern medical way [{see n02., below}...] Dr. Wiesner’s practice offers an array of techniques, including herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutritional supplements, and color therapy [{!!!}...acupuncture is an] ancient practice [that] stems from a belief [!!!; quite] that illness is caused when vital pathways through the body are interrupted or are off balance. Acupuncture rebuilds those connections and clears pathways [{again, see n01., below}...] acupuncture can improve muscle tone and dermal contraction, increase collagen production and improve metabolism to counteract the look of lines, wrinkles and under-eye circles, Dr. Wiesner said. It can also lift droopy eyelids and minimize double chins while addressing imbalance[s] in the body that could accelerate aging [really!...] 'I think my patients are lucky. [Natural medicine] is an amazing tool to have in your belt' [see 004., below]."

Note: as is the case so often, this premise isn't fully fleshed out. See notes for 002.b., below.

002.b. and Wiesner states in "About Natural Medicine":

"naturopathic medicine [...is] founded upon a holistic philosophy [{this is code for 'this is a sectarian system / a belief system'...NDs are] educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. [{see n.02., below}...] naturopathic medicine is appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions affecting all people of all ages [{yikes!}...] the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training [...including] acupuncture [and] homeopathic medicine [...] a naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams [see n02., below] so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician [{yikes!}...] traditional Chinese medicine [...per a] Master of Science in Acupuncture [{see n02., below}...] acupuncture utilizes hair-thin needles on specific points on the body to move energy (qi) and balance the meridians [see n01., below}]."

Notes:

n01. regarding IATHI / qi / energy / vital pathways, if we go to the alma mater of this ND, the University of Bridgeport [I sat there in classes with Wiesner, by the way, when we were both students], we can get the whole context of that which naturopathy / "natural medicine" bases itself upon:

UB states in "Six Guiding Principles. Guiding Principle #1":

"guiding principle # 1: the healing power of nature, viz 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. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process."

This is of course the science-ejected concept of vitalism.

n02. yet, UB quite falsely labels naturopathy [and acupuncture / TCM] science!

003. so, when is what's "amazing" and "rigorous" and 'science-based' and "a modern medical way"

that which is

completely imaginary / of 'article of faith belief status' [vitalistic entities / 'purposeful life spirits' that magically run the body!] and simply placebo and specifically 'don't work' in a quite "worthless" kind of manner...

naturopathy / natural medicine!

Wherein, belief sets / sectarian constellations are falsely labeled scientific, aka where what isn't science [profoundly] is mislabeled science.

Naturopathy's Essential Vitalism Commitment - NCNM's President & CEO Schleich, D.J. (PhD UT):

here, I quote from a "Naturopathic Doctor News & Review" [NDNR] article written by NCNM president & CEO Schleich regarding naturopathy's essential vitalism commitment:

001. the NDNR article "Towards an Epistemology of Naturopathic Medicine" [2009-04] by Schleich, D.J. (PhD UT) [who is not an ND, BTW, and whose article is rather 'without direction'] states:

"[that] the holistic [aka naturopathic] practitioner's spiritual and physical worlds are [quoting Boon] 'not separate, but manifestations of a single life force' [{naturo.'s requisite supernaturalism & vitalism belief amalgam'; and since a life force is an a priori figment and the physical world is a posteriori real, wow -- obviously, naturo.'s don't distinguish between either epistemic type, they conflate / blend them!!!; aka, naturo.'s knowledge claims are muddled nonsense / highly suspect}...and speaks of] the myth of the basic sciences [huh?] or 'physico-chemico-reductionism' [{they're not the same thing; their equation is WRONG}...and speaks of modern medicine as that of] the allopathic or biomedicine doctor [{modern medicine isn't allopathy};...who is supposedly of] a biomedical model which reduces all pathology to a cellular or molecular level [{is this even true, 'reduces'?}...whereby] the scientific method is the route to curing a disease [{that's horrible?}...per] the reductionism of a strictly biomedical perspective [{again, reductionism?}...and speaks of questioning] the unassailable position of science in health design and delivery, and also in the education of doctors [{are you nuts?}...] and a biomedical knowledge which the allopathic professions claim inappropriately as their own [huh?]."

Note: Schleich is described as "president and CEO of NCNM [...and] former CEO and president of CCNM." I call such knowledge-type blending "the epistemic conflation of a school of thought claiming to be scientific."

002. meanwhile, vitalism is science-ejected; supernaturalism is science-ejected -- yet, absurdly, NCNM claims that such survives scientific scrutiny.

002. NCNM's committment to vitalism:

002.a. NCNM states in "Principles of Healing":

"the practice of naturopathic medicine emerges from six principles of healing [...] these principles stand as the distinguishing marks of the profession [{!}...#1] the healing power of nature -- vis medicatrix naturae [...which is the] life force [...#3] the process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, expressions of the life force attempting to heal itself [...overall, naturo. is] the practice of promoting health through stimulation of the vital force [...and we're told] these principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease and are examined continually in light of scientific analysis."

Note: again, science-ejected figmentation claimed as 'objective / in fact'.

002.b. and Schleich states in "Welcome to the National College of Natural Medicine: A Message From Our President, David J. Schleich, PhD":

"we will continue to advocate for the extraordinary presence of the vis medicatrix naturae, the healing power of nature, in patient care."

Note: naturo. is obviously STRONGLY committed to this sectarian belief, and, while antiscientific, claims a scientific status.

Extraordinarily wacko.

Naturopathy's 'Supernatural Cause of Disease' - Ian, H. (NMD SCNM), Pizzorno, J.E. (ND NCNM):

here, I principally quote from a Naturopathic Doctor News & Review [NDNR] article by an NMD that states that all disease is due to a "spiritual" / supernatural cause, first & foremost [see 001., below]; and from a similar position held by Pizzorno [see 002., below]:

001. Ian, H. (NMD SCNM) states in "The Nature of the Counseling Relationship: Within the Naturopathic Philosophy" [NDNR 2009-04, p.014-015]:

"the counseling relationship provides a vehicle to approach the symptoms of illness through recognition of and reverence for the blueprint of the human [{huh?}...] the physician will understand and address the cause of illness [...] act[ing] with the vis medicatrix naturae [VMN...per] the creator's purpose [{theism?}...] the architect of the human has created a complex design consisting of emotional, psychological and spiritual components [{theism?}...that are] inseparable [...] all disease originates from a basic crisis of spirit [...] all physical dysfunction being manifest by the body is a reflection of deeper, unresolved spiritual issues [...per] the crisis of spirit that preceded and accompanied the manifestation of disease [...per] the inner emotional and spiritual experience of the human precedes and, in fact, determines all that is experienced at the physical level of life [...this is apposed to] the current cultural attitude that disease originates from unseen forces that invade and take over the physical body [{huh?; what culture is that, paleolithic man?}...Shealy & Myss] identified eight dysfunctional patterns in people who become sick [...#2] negative belief patterns that have control over a person's reality."

Note: the irony is killing me -- in naturoland, nature is supernatural, superstition is elevated to the status of fact. There's nothing "in fact" about a BELIEF that disease is entirely of supernatural origin -- it is an article of faith. Calling such in fact is truly 'the negative belief pattern', because faith and fact are different, and conflating them is absurd. I hazard to guess that such righteousness plows over others' freedom of conscience.

Meanwhile, similarly,
SCNM -- Ian's alma mater -- claims that naturopathic figmentation survives scientific scrutiny.

002. this parallels Pizzorno, J.E. (ND NCNM 1975)'s claim that the 'purposeful life spirit' bioagency NDs call VMN is a 'physiological system' / spirit:

"[page three:] seven underlying, health-sustaining systems of our body must function effectively to ensure our well-being, prevent disease, and allow a full life: the immune system, the detoxification system, the inflammatory system, the metabolic system, the regulatory system, the regeneration system, and our life-force (or spirit). Weakness in any of these seven systems results in susceptibilities that allow most common diseases to develop [...page four:] live in harmony with your life-force [...] each of us needs to become more aware of the activity of the vis medicatrix naturae (life-force) deep within us."

Note: meanwhile, similarly,
NCNM -- Pizzorno's alma mater -- claims that such naturopathic figmentation survives scientific scrutiny.