ND Celik: Naturopathy Mislabeling Microcosm, Canadian-Style

here, I cite from the web pages of Canadian ND Celik, who speaks of naturopathy's essential science-ejected premise and yet labels naturopathy science [see 001., below]:

Celik, S. (ND CCNM) states:

001. naturopathy's essential vitalism as if within science:

001.a. in "Homeopathic Medicine" [vsc 2012-04-02]:

"homeopathic medicine [a subset within naturopathy] is safe and has been shown to be effective in treating various diseases.  Homeopathic medicine treats your symptoms by affecting your vital force.  Disturbance of the vital force in the body is the root cause of all illness. Your symptoms have manifested as a result of a disrupted vital force.  Most of us are searching for long term cures rather than temporarily relief of symptoms. In order achieve this, one must re-balance the vital force and treat the whole person from within [...]

homeopathic medicine has been verified experimentally and clinically for over 200 years. This revolutionary, natural medical science was discovered in 1796 by German scientist."

Note: and there you go, that fake reason for illness, that figment known as a vital for at the heart of naturopathy.  Meanwhile, on planet Reality, homeopathy is considered bunk scientifically speaking.

001.b. in "Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture" [vsc 2012-04-02]:

"[in] traditional Chinese medicine [a subset within naturopathy...] the body's vital energy (known in English as 'chi' or 'qi'), flows through channels also known as meridians [...] when the flow of vital energy is functioning properly, the organs and systems are working together in harmony. However, if there is a blockage of the qi, or an imbalance, qi backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts flow in other parts. This results in disease, disharmony and dysfunction. Re-establishing regular flow of qi is achieved through needling specific, carefully selected points using thin, sterile needles [...]

modern scientific research has recently confirmed the existence of the body's meridians using infrared thermography. This practice is safe, free of side effects and highly effective."

Note: quite a promise, regarding science and qi pathways and efficacy.  Empty promises, as recent commentary notes:

"Alastair MacLennan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Adelaide, said the credibility of universities is under threat from what he calls hocus pocus medicine. 'Legitimate science and research in those universities are undermined by nonsensical practices. They are basically courses that earn money for the university, and give you respectability if you have a degree in pseudo-science. Some call themselves doctors but the public is not good at differentiating.'''

002. therein:

licensed nonsense marches on: the science subset nonsense irrationality and absurdity of worldwide naturopathy!

Changelog 2012-04-01 and 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 science claims of:

ND Casteels; NDs Cates & Jacobs;

NDs Cornish, Nakamura, Tsnobiladze;

ND Churchill; ND Ceasar; ND Caracoglia;

ND Carter; NDs Chin & Hawco;

ND Chinoy; ND Camilleri;

NDs Cheng-Kai-On & Kim;

ND Chua; ND Chow; NDs Cheah & Fyffe;

ND Cameron; ND Campbell, E.;

ND Cardwell; ND Camp; 

all to Appendix I.05.c.;

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

Meissner, J. (ND NCNM 1983) in "Homeopathy Rocks! With Julek Meissner, N.D. http://cameo.techmagsocial.com/homeopathyrocks/" [vsc 2012-03-30] states the science-ejected vitalism at the heart of 'naturopathy subset homeopathy':

.

.

#science-ejectedvitalism #lifeforce #chi #naturaldefensemechanism #pseudoenergy #homeopathy #homeopathyproponentry

.

"our body has a natural innate ability to heal itself and I specialize in harnessing that ability [...] their unique nature.  An energy that creates those symptoms [...] it's even smaller than microscopic [...] is health and disease a biochemical issue or an energetic issue?  So we're talking about energy and we're talking about a therapeutic approach that uses energy not biochemistry [...] what is energy?  What is it that animates us?  What is it that helps us be alive.  What is life?   What is life force? [...] chi [...] energy [...] an energetic approach [...] an energetic issue [...] a mysterious force that creates symptoms and that heals [...] if we understand what's unique about the individual and their life force, we can find a way to access that natural defense mechanism [...] we are body, mind and spirit."

.

his web pages also talk about this naturopathy-essential truly science-ejected vitalism:

.(click to embiggen)

.

but of course, actual energy in science is measurable, physical, 'in-evidence.'  This naturopathic-homeopathic 'energy' is a figmentation that is not necessary to explain anything, and actually is a place-filler that stops the acquisition of actual knowledge.

.

Australian Naturopath Hayden Keys: Science Subset Naturopathy Subset Iridology [Overset Bullsh*t!]

here, I cite from web pages by a Sydney, Australia naturopath who broadly claims naturopathy is "science" and employs iridology [see 001., below]; but iridology is as scientific as the Tooth Fairy [see 002., below]:

001. Keys, H. (ND{AU} UWS) states that:

001.a. naturopathy is science:

001.a1. in "Hayden Keys" [vsc 2012-01-03] :

"I'm Hayden Keys, I'm a naturopath and I graduated with distinction from the University of Western Sydney. I hold a bachelor of health science, majoring in naturopathy."

Note: ah, science subset naturopathy!

001.a2. in "Natural Medicine Therapies" [vsc 2012-01-03]:

"naturopathy is the science of healing [...] as I mentioned earlier naturopathy is the science of healing."

Note: ditto, ditto.

001.a3. in "Proven Natural Therapies and Healthy Remedies. Sydney Naturopath Reveals the Truth Behind Naturopathy" [vsc 2012-03-30]:

"Sydney Naturopath and owner of Happy Healthy & Wellbeing Center Hayden Keys explains 'naturopathy is the science of healing'."

Note: and that is quite a broad categorization of 'the naturopathic' as "science".

001.b. naturopathy contains iridology:

001.b1. in "Iridology Sydney" [vsc 2012-03-30]:

now, there's no text right now on that page.  But, the web page menu and address places iridology with "therapies".

Note: but if iridology is anything, it is a DIAGNOSTIC...but...

002. the truth behind the truth regarding iridology and science:

002.a. Wikipedia's [quite pedestrian!] in "Iridology" states:

"as opposed to evidence-based medicine, iridology is not supported by quality research studies and is widely considered pseudoscience [...] the majority of medical doctors reject all the claims of all branches of iridology and label them as pseudoscience or even quackery [...] well controlled scientific evaluation of iridology has shown entirely negative results, with all rigorous double blind tests failing to find any statistical significance to its claims."

Note: simply stated, iridology DOESN'T WORK.  And, in that sense, a science claim upon such nonsense...

is typical of naturopathy.

Here's the ND's alma mater, stating 'science subset naturopathy subset iridology.'

Australia's ABC AM Radio Interview Set: Dwyer is from Science / Rigor, Phelps is from sCAM / Falsehood [IMHO]

here, I quote in part from two separate interviews of representatives of Friends of Science in Medicine and Integrative Medicine in Australia, respectively, with my comments in unquoted bold [see 001., below]:

001. blogs.abc.net.au states in "Complementary Medicine - To Teach or Not to Teach" (2012-03-28) [saved 2012-03-28]:

Note: one point I'll make, from this beginning, is that the title here is directly related to an ACADEMIC question, but mainly Phelps evaded that issue and pursued a COMMERCE perspective related to patients / the general population and not STUDENTS.

001.a. Dwyer's:

"Professor John Dwyer [...] emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales [...and] the President of the Friends of Science in Medicine [...which numbers now] 650 [...of the] leading doctors and scientists in Australia [...]";

wow, nice to see that the FSM numbers have grown so fast.

"[...states regarding] alternative and complementary medicines, so-called [aka sCAM!...]";

loving it.  Us skeptics usually consider CAM as sCAM, because that which complements and that which is alternative should really be such, and since so much is usually nonsense, therein s=so-called.

"in this most scientific of all ages, pseudosciences [and] false ideologies [...] about health are still foisted upon the public. As doctors and scientists we saw public harm being done [...] you have to really do a lot of scientific studies to prove whether something is effective or not [...] our universities have go to be bastions of good science. Science that has a good evidence base, where experimental work has confirmed that this is for real [...] to champion evidence-based medicine [...] to improve the protection of the consumer [...regarding] health fraud [...] research is terribly important [...]";

one type of harm I'll mention, since the topic here is basically ACADEMIC, is the harm done to education consumers who participate in falsely-labeled-as-science programs.  They are therein miseducated and brainwashed, which is totally the opposite of post-secondary education's mission. For instance, it is quite heinous to see a naturopathy degree posed as within science, and then see the primary text full of nonscience, the science-ejected, and the just plain old cultic.

 "[...these practices and ideas lacking] scientific evidence [...like chiropractic's] mysterious energy flow [...that] innate intelligence in the spine that controls the health of most organs in the body [...which is] metaphysical rather than physical [...]";

ye old archaic vitalism nonsense.

"[...without evidence like TCM's] merdians [...with] no scientific evidence what[so]ever [...and is rather] antiscientific [...] teaching pseudosciences as if there was a evidence base for them [...] as if there was a scientific base to support them [...] these dangerous practices [...] we're talking about the pseudosciences [...wherein] there's absolutely no evidence, and could be no evidence to support them [...these] nonsciences [...like] homeopathy [...yet such is posed within] a bachelor of science degree [like] chiropractic [...]";

reminds me of my US naturopathy school days, wherein the science-exterior is posed as within science / science-based, though not science and actually sectarian supernaturalism and kind.

"[...] totally ridiculous concept[s...like] iridology, reflexology, healing touch therapy, kinesiology [along with homeopathy aka things NDs do...] energy medicine [...and there's the] naturopath [who is antivaccine...]";

hear, hear.

001.b. Phelp's:

Note: whom I find STRANGELY inconsistent in her considerations.  She speaks of evidence being so important, but also not to delineate 'good from bad', and therein truth from falsehood, or better choices from worse choices.  She speaks of 'consumer protection' and 'informed consent' basically, yet for whatever reason it seems to me that CAM's mislabeling and misrepresentation of what is basically science-ejected nonsense as 'in evidence scientifically speaking' is fine, particularly academically.

"Dr Kerryn Phelps [is a] General Practitioner and President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association [...and defends] natural therapies [...aka the] integrative medicine movement [...aka] supportive treatments [...]";

synonyms.

"we need to try to get away from this divisive, hostile position [...this] combative, hostile, divisive position [...] that this group has created [...] that Professor Dwyer and his Friends of Science in Medicine [who] I like to call 'the enemies of choice in health care' have started to create [...or she says] the so-called Friends of Science in Medicine [...]";

my simple observation is this: FSM has as their main trust the MISLABELING of what is not science as science ACADEMICALLY.  Yet, here we have the commerce-choice defense.  That does not follow.  Science is, as I've heard time and time again in terms of the intrascientific, HOSTILE -- hostile to claims until they justify themselves with EVIDENCE.  And there is that reverse accusation here: that FSM are not friendly to science or medicine...that they are not friendly.  'Boo-hoo, they won't be my friend'.

[...and she speaks of] naturopathy [...and] science [...and] what's in the patient's best interest [...respecting] patient preferences [...which] has the best chance of being effective for them [...] we help the consumer, our patients, to be discerning consumers, to be able to put to them informed evidence [...] informed answers [...] real advice [...] to enhance the health of the people who come under our care [...] to be able to provide real choice for patients, real information, as much evidence as we can, that we support research";

the irony is killing me. THE TRUTH is in a patient's best interest, to then discern by being informed about REALITY, and then informed consent follows.  Efficacy is based upon science...how else is something known via a rigorous, tested, confirmed process?  Just simply WOW.

"I'd like to see anybody show harm from reflexology. If homeopathy is as useless as he says then he should not be worried about harm there either [...]";

first, if one were to, sticking with the ACADEMIC context of the ABC web page title, enroll in one of these programs labeled science and it is not...I see quite an amount of harm.  It's commercial fraud, first and foremost, and academic NONSENSE.  I have many many saved sources from the naturopathy side stating that both reflexology and homeopathy are SCIENCE.

"[and she claims such therapies are] strongly supported by evidence [...of] and evidence base that respects the patient's choice [...] a hierarchy of evidence [...] to say that, as he did, that traditional Chinese medicine has to scientific basis is just purely wrong [...the scientific papers are] robust [...not] pseudoscience [...and she mentions] yin, yan and merdians";

bullshit, in a tuxedo.

"medicine can't claim to be entirely evidence-based [...] if you feel better you keep using it, it's really that simple";

there we go: forget science and stick with prescientific confirmatory modes like what maintained 1600 years of Galenic junk medical thought. And the faults of medicine still do not excuse nonscience programs academically classifying themselves as science.

"we need to back away from saying this is good and this is bad. We need to say what is going to be in the best interest of patients";

this is quite a summation / microcosm of irrationality: lets not judge things based upon their merit!  And somehow in not delineating between what is best and worst, we'll magically arrive at what's best.

Note: so, I just find so much of the Phelp's rebuttal to be false, illogical, irrational, fallacy-laden, evasive, and not actually complementary or alternative therein...so sCAMMY.

Kudos to Carl Bartecchi For Stating It Like It is Regarding Naturopathy

here, I cite from a recent article on naturopathy:

001. Carl Bartecchi states in the Pueblo Chieftain's "Naturopathic Treatment: 'Unproven' Medicine" [vsc 2012-03-26]:

"a naturopath is a practitioner who claims to use natural [...] treatments to stimulate the sick body to heal itself [...including] herbs, nutritional counseling, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, massage, mind/body treatments, water treatments, and such therapies as ozone, air and light, ultraviolet, ultrasound and electro-stimulation, among others [...such] fall[s] under the category of alternative medicine which by definition is 'unproven' medicine [...] the inability of naturopaths to apply science-based principles and scientific study to many of their most popular treatment modalities has been a major concern to health care professionals [...] some naturopathic treatments are not only unscientific but blatantly unsafe, and expose their patients to significant health risks and complications. For example, their major textbook recommended treatments that defy medical knowledge and omits any discussion of benefits that patients might receive from many drugs or surgery [...] naturopathic education programs are deficient in the study of the commonly used and scientifically proven effective drugs and other therapies that are so critical to modern approaches to a variety of diseases [...] well-known British scientists have led the charge to drop public funding for universities providing degrees in areas of alternative medicine, which includes naturopathy, homeopathy, reflexology, Chinese medicine and acupuncture. This has led to universities that had provided such degrees to shut down their alternative medicine departments and terminate recruiting students for such courses for 2012. The reality of these scientifically deficient practices has led to more scrutiny of public funding for these programs [...] the worst of which are homeopathic preparations, but also questionable Chinese medicine practices, 'natural methods' to treat cancers, acupuncture, colonic enemas and numerous other unproven therapies for real disease processes. Most of the treatments could have little more than a placebo effect [...] their longstanding opposition to childhood vaccination, in spite of well-documented decreases in childhood disease as a result of widespread vaccination, has been a particular problem".

Note: hear, hear.

002. I'll add:

Carl is being very generous here in terms of his criticism of WHAT-THEY-DO.  So much is actually scientifically-ejected, implausible, and downright DISHONEST.

NDs as "Integrative Oncologists" at Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine's New Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre, and Naturopathy's Inherent Pseudoscience Claimed as Science [Marches On!!!]

here, I cite from a recent Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine [CCNM] press release [see 001., below]; then, I peel back some layers regarding the 'truly naturopathic' in CCNM's own words [see 002., below]:

001. CCNM states in "Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine Opens First Integrative Cancer Center in Eastern Canada" (2012-03-26)[vsc 2012-03-26; my notes are in unquoted bold; I'm using the American English version of centre, too]:

"[2011-03-26] "the Center is governed by the CCNM [...] the Center's clinical practice and visionary research agenda is led by Dugald Seely, ND, MSc, FABNO, the executive director and founder of the OICC [...and] 'the director of research and clinical epidemiology at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM)' [...said] Bob Bernhardt, PhD, CCNM's president and CEO [...and it's] supervised by the OICC's chief clinical medical officer, Leesa Kirchner, B.Sc., ND, FABNO [...] for further information [...they provide] Catherine Kenwell. Director, Marketing and Communications. Canadian College for Naturopathic Medicine. 416-498-1255 ext. 263 . ckenwell@ccnm.edu . www.ccnm.edu [...and] Heidi Vincent. .Marketing Communications and Public Relations. The Ottawa Integrative Cancer Center. 613-293-3564. hvincent@oicc.ca .www.oicc.ca";

ah, so the naturopathic-CCNM connection stated.

"the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Center (OICC) has opened its doors [...as] a treatment clinic and an integrative oncology research center [...as] a not-for-profit cancer care and research center delivering whole-person cancer care [...using] integrative methods [...as] 'integrative oncology' [...]";

as ONCOLOGISTS.

"[according to ND Seely they'll be] 'providing complementary therapies in an evidence-based manner'  [...it's] a contemporary cancer treatment model [...it's] scientifically grounded, evidence-informed complementary medicine [...] the OICC is committed to building the evidence base in the emerging field of integrative oncology [...] the OICC is a not-for-profit cancer care and research center with a mission to deliver whole-person care that includes scientifically grounded evidence-informed complementary medicine [...] the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) is Canada's premier institute for education and research in naturopathic medicine. CCNM offers a rigorous four-year, full-time doctor of naturopathic medicine program. The College educates, develops and trains naturopathic doctors through excellence in health education, clinical services and research that integrate mind, body and spirit. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are primary health-care practitioners. For more information, please visit www.ccnm.edu";

again, that claim of EVIDENCE, contemporary as in current in context, and that broad claim of "scientific."  And RIGOR, EXCELLENCE, and SPIRIT.  I'll take them up on that invitation in 002., below.  Incidentally, if the scientific now legitimately includes the supernatural, which is what they explicitly state here, they've won a Nobel Prize and they've turned all of SCIENTIFIC knowledge from the past few hundred years particularly ON ITS HEAD.  Of course, if they merely mash all these words together and there's nothing LEGITIMATE about these claims, then we are as usual dealing with pseudoscience.

"[they offer] therapies to strengthen the body's inherent healing ability [...to] support the patient's healing ability [...] the Center offers naturopathic medicine";

now, there's their coded underlying premise coded as ever providing no transparent explanation of naturopathy's primary context, as usual.  This manipulation is one of their best.  You think / you are offered the language is representing a pedestrian idea.  But, it actually codes something very very science-ejected and sectarian.  It's a kind of linguistic bait-and-switch, or camouflaging.

Note: a similar CCNM press release is here.

002.  we are, as usual, dealing with pseudoscience, overall:

002.a. there are CCNM's broad claims of science:

which I've collected here. typified by their language "rigorous scientific foundation."

002.b. there is the inherently science-ejected within that broad science claim:

such as their INSTITUTIONAL vitalism typified by their claims that physiology is run by a "vital force",

and their supernaturalism typified by their publication "Mind, Body, Spirit" creating for them a "whole" person [personally, I'm whole with all the atoms in my body right now and NOTHING ELSE],

and bogus therapies like homeopathy said to work via that science-ejected vital force.

003. so:

I expect the same pattern with Canadian naturopathy's extension into something so SERIOUS like oncology: a knowledge-type muddle which really is heinous because it is brainwashing post-secondary students with junk-thought, and it is engaging in COMMERCE in a very unfair manner.

by the way, here's a CCNM ND in action talking about using Mistletoe and Vitamin C for patients with cancer.

Changelog 2012-03-25 and 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:

OHSU to Appendix B.01.c.;

the science claims of:

NDs Berkebile, Day, Hangee-Bauer, Horowitz, Metz, Zengion to Appendix I.05.b.;

ND Pizzorno et al and the L.A. Times to Appendix I.07.02.;

ND O'Dell; ND Olic; ND Oskin; ND Ouano to Appendix I.05.L.;

BINM to Appendix I.01.a3.;

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

MacLeod, C. (ND CCNM) states in "Naturopathic Medicine and Cancer - Dr. Colin MacLeod" [vsc 2012-03-24; my comments are in unquoted bold]:

.

. 

#naturopathiconcology  #iscador #vitaminC #pancreaticcancer

.

"what is naturopathic medicine: careful investigation, in-depth evaluation, gentle, effective treatment, long-term wellness, proper diagnosis --> proper treatment [...]";

sounds very different from the absurdity that I know naturopathy to be!  For instance, being "careful, in-depth, and seeking what is proper and effective IMMEDIATELY knocks out one of their favorite treatments, homeopathy.  It also leads to the conclusion that the naturopathic claim that science legitimately contains what is nonscience.  But, in naturopathyland nonsense is sense;

"what naturopaths do [...includes] naturopathic oncology [...] how we are different from medical doctors [...we treat] the root cause [...and speaks of cancer] physiology [...and] genes [...and] mistletoe injections, intravenous vitamin C [...and studies that are] very mainstream [...for] pancreatic cancer [...regarding] Iscador [...and] vitamin C [...as] viable treatment in pancreatic cancer [...] I've seen quite a few naturopaths use it [...] I've seen it work [...] although the research isn't there [...] there's good results [but such doesn't work, and why should it]."

again, that naturopathic thought-muddle: useful for cancer but not known in any rigorous way to be useful.  Yet, they do make money along the way.

Vancouver Sun's Randy Shore: A "Food and Science Reporter" Who Misses Naturopathy's Essential Pseudoscience in this Commercial for Them

here, I cite from a recent Vancouver Sun [VS] video about naturopathy [see 001., below]; then, I illuminate what is grossly overlooked [see 002., below]; and finally, I better answer the question posed by the VS [see 003., below]:

001. the VS states in "Video: Empowered Health - What is a Naturopathic Practitioner?" (2012-03-21) [vsc 2012-03-20]:

"[from the description] the Sun's food and science reporter Randy Shore [...]";

there's a weird combination!!!  I think one part of that mixture here may be an example of ravenous gullibility, and it's not the science part!

"explains the benefits of using a naturopathic practitioner to help improve your health [...this] Empowered Health episode  [...is] designed to put you in control of your health [...]";

sounds good!  One way to get empowered and in control is to get knowledgeable.  But, right away, we're not getting objectivity me things -- we're getting the language of one-sided UNCRITICAL PROMOTION.

"[from the video] naturopaths are guided by a set of principles [...] naturopathic doctors believe that the body has the power to heal itself [PTHI...]";

I'll talk about this more in 002. below.

"your treatment may include herbal and botanical remedies, vitamins and minerals, natural health products, and homeopathic medicines [...and] practices like traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and homeopathy"

homeopathy!  Which I'll talk about in 002., below too.

"naturopaths complete three years of university then four years of training in the same basic sciences that medical doctors receive [...] naturopathic medicine has its own peer reviewed scientific journals where research is vetted and published [...]";

and the old 'it is science' claim.

Note: and that's all you get, really.  You would think that someone who is a "science" reporter would engage in some ANALYSIS and RESEARCH, instead of repeating the language that you basically find on any ND web page.  So much has been left out that I feel instead manipulated and uninformed from this video, not empowered and informed.  So, I'll inform and empower you myself with some interesting facts about 'the essentially naturopathic.'

002. deep within naturopathy:

is this fact [amongst other absurdities]: the central belief of naturopathy [PTHI, you might say] is simply this: vitalism (which is science-ejected yet falsely claimed as science-based).  I've been blogging about such absurdity here for more than 600 posts, roughly.

to state it simply: naturopathy engages in commerce both academically and clinically via false labels that are QUITE EASY to expose.  Science is used as a label upon the hugely science-ejected, inefficacious treatments like homeopathy are falsely labeled powerful, etc.

003. so to answer that VS question "what is a naturopathic practitioner?":

in my view, an ND is someone who has been grossly MISEDUCATED and is basing their context on what is FALSE.  'The essentially naturopathic' is, truly, nonsense.

why weren't we told this?  This information isn't hard to find these days.  It merely requires some science, some internet browsing, and some thoughtfulness.

For instance, here are the first-page results using the term "naturopathic science" [without the quotes; 2012-03-22]:
.

.
It seems to me the VS wants only one side -- the promotional, incomplete, manipulative and false side -- of naturopathy to be known.  Obviously from the search above there is ANOTHER SIDE.  And, in my opinion, it is sciencebasedmedicine.org and quackwatch.com that get it right.

Naturopathy's Essential Science-Ejected Vitalism Nuttiness: ND Pizzorno via NUHS at Slideshare 2011

here, I cite from National University of Health Sciences [NUHS] who hosted a presentation by ND Pizzorno [see 001., below]; then, onward to the Slideshare presentation notes they have up which clearly states the science-ejected "nature" (literally) of naturopathy [see 002., below]; and then, the continuous false labeling [see 003., below]:

001. NUHS states in "Homecoming 2011 Highlights" [vsc 2012-03-20]:

"Speakers' Notes [...the presentation title and link is] 'Role of the Natural Medicine Physician [aka naturopathy and kind] within the New Health Care Paradigm' [by] Joseph Pizzorno, ND."

Note: this is 'old science-based Joe.'  Why do I call him that?  Well, he's been around for years promoting the label "science-based" upon naturopathy.  For instance, here's a Los Angeles Times 1996 AP article [vsc 2012-03-19] wherein he's quoted as stating naturopathy is "science-based natural medicine."  Pizzorno is, by the way, a 1975 graduate of NCNM.  NUHS claims to be 'of science' in its very title.  So, you would reasonably expect the contents of ND Pizzorno's lecture there -- based upon these commerce and academic labels -- to be SCIENCE.

002. that NUHS Slideshare account states in "Role of the Natural Medicine Physician within the New Health Care Paradigm" [vsc and download 2012-03-20] per the Slideshare transcription of the slides:

"presentation transcript [...] in legend, Hygeia is the daughter of the god of medicine, and is closely correlated with the origin of the vis medicatrix naturae [...] is a belief in wellness a recognition of the vis? The VIS embraces VITALISM [his caps]. Natural medicine is fundamentally a vitalistic practice (vis medicatrix naturae) [...requiring] understanding the vis [...] I have been involved in naturopathic medicine for 35 years and I still can’t define it. Nonetheless we can see the Vis in others—it is something we all sense [...] the level of a patient’s vitality; when it increases you know you are on the path to cure, but if it decreases then you are only palliating symptoms and suppressing the individual’s expression of the Vis [...] VMN = the healing power of nature. VMN = the self-organizing property. The VMN functions in any given living system as the tendency to organize that system so as to maintain existence.The Vis is universal [...] an internal intelligence for self-maintenance [...] the Vis exists universally and is a cosmological reality [...] the vis is not weakened or strengthened by the weakness or strength of the individual. The VMN exists internally and universally [...] naturopathic medicine distinguishes itself philosophically from mainstream medicine by its core principle: vis medicatrix naturae, the healing power of nature. Its insistence on referring to the vital force [...] my current thinking: Vis is the manifestation of the universal consciousness in biological form. Our environment, beliefs, interactions with others, actions, lifestyle,diet, etc. modulate the manifestation of Vis as our vitality, but Vis itself is immutable. As we harmonize with the Vis, our consciousness expands [...] natural medicine physician of the future fully understands and embraces the vis [...the future is] FULLY embracing the VIS [his caps]."

Note: ah, ye old science-ejected vitalism at the core of the therefore quite falsely labeled "science-based."  This is the absurdity, irrationality and dumb-assedness at the heart of naturopathy / natural medicine.  He begins with a history lesson.  But the unspoken lesson is that many ideas have been tossed onto the junk-pile of superstition and obsolesce.  Vitalism is such a belief.

Several other things from this lecture:

he mentions "advisory" and "physician visits" but I'm temped to term them 'ad-VIS-ory' and 'VIS-its'!  Thanks for the nutty advice Joe like "placebo is still more effective than virtually every drug" -- really!;

this whole 'all of reality is a universal consciousness / an intelligent living whatever' is pantheism and kind, dressed down, and therein what's really being espoused is a religion disguised in labels of "science".  In fact, in naturopathy school, since 'vis' is also within the body and equated with god essentially, I got the impression is is also what I term autoentheism...a god-within belief system falsely labeled science;

how scientific is something claimed as scientific that is not in any way definable?  It's like saying 'I really don't know what kind of cloths the Emperor is not wearing: I know we can't prove that the cloths are there because he's naked, but I know they're they and I'm framing my whole context around that fact and I'll blithely ignore all that uncoveredness as cosmological reality!';

"scientific materialism is an incomplete description of reality" really means 'in spite of science being reliant upon evidence, we have our metaphysical / supernatural / unevidenced model and that is our fundamental position; what's imagined and what's real are the same thing';

basic science is claimed as embraced except when it comes to that central naturopathic beliefs, like vitalism [and things like homeopathy!];

 

modern medicine is falsely posed as allopathy;

the past is posed as the future! This fits well with 'the reversal of all values' at the heart of naturopathy: natural is really supernatural, science is really nonscience, facts are actually beliefs as necessary in this world as belief in flying carpets, dragons, and magic beans. Therein, truth is really falsehood: in claiming all this "science" upon the broadly science-exterior!!!

003. the NUHS Slideshare account home page states [vsc 2012-03-20]:

"National University of Health Sciences. Lombard,IL, United States Education. www.nuhs.edu. 1-800-826-6285. National University of Health Sciences is the nation’s premier institution for integrative health science education. Here you’ll find outstanding preparation in integrative health care professions such as chiropractic and naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and oriental medicine, massage therapy, biomedical science, and more."

Note: so, the 'licensed falsehood' commercial and academic racket continues.

Changelog 2012-03-18 and 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 science claims of:

ND Engelbrecht to Appendix I.05.e.;

NDs Entner and Spooner to Appendix I.05.e.;

NCNM to Appendix I.01.a5.;

ND Lin to Appendix I.05.j.;

the 'naturopathy is pseudoscience and quackery' claim of:

Berdanier (ISBN 0849327059 9780849327056) to Appendix K.00.;

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

Presenting the iridology of Australian naturopath Julieann Howie in "Seatedmassage - Julieann Howie, Naturopath, speaks about Iridology" [posted 2012-02-24; vsc 2012-03-11]:

.

.

She states:

"iridology is where I look into your eyes and tell you the strengths and weaknesses of your whole body system [...including] personalities, constitutions [...] we look at the structure and we look at the colors and that gives us a huge insight into many areas of your whole personality, your whole health, weaknesses, strengths, what can be enhanced, what needs to be really monitored and looked after.  The eyes shows us the inside to you."

Some tags I'd add:

#bogus #pseudodiagnostic #homunculus #homunculurfalsebelief

Homeopathy's a sCAM - SGU #348 via Richard Saunders:

here, I provide a very partial transcript of a recent Skeptics Guide to the Universe episode regarding Friends of Science in Medicine and Australian homeopathy:

001. "The Skeptics Guide #348 - Mar 17 2012" states:

"[the section is titled] Defending Science in Australia [...and begins at 00.22.40]

[per Richard Saunders] the Friends of Science in Medicine [...] a group of concerned scientists and citizens [...concerning] the ongoing waste of time and money and resources [...] courses in [...] nonsense.  And I don't use that term lightly [...] hardcore nonsense [..] iridology, homeopathy, reiki, reflexology [which is hugely 'what naturopaths do in Australia!!!'...] Australian Skeptics [...] think this is a wonderful idea [...] we are supporting them [...] but what an important initiative it is and man haven't the opposition, the quacks, been quacking loudly about this [...] the alternative medicine [...like] homeopaths [...offering] false balance [...aka] the flat earth [...claiming it's] scientifically proven [...and] effective [...it's usually a] Gish galloping [...but specifically regarding homeopathy] there's nothing in it [...it] has no ingredients [...] it's a lie, it's a sham, it's a scam [or you could say sCAM, 'so called complementary and alternative MEDICINE'].  If it were any other product it would be illegal to do this [...but] homeopathy gets a free pass  [medicine without medicine! -- 'so-called']

[...Steve Novella] why is this being supported and taught as if it were legitimate in universities? It becomes an issue of academic standards

[...RS] they're failing to uphold the standards of science 

[...and SN mentions the] utter pseudoscientific nonsense that your university is teaching."

Note: not new ground, but interesting.  Hear, hear.

Google+ - Twitter - Storify: CTCA, ND Anderson, and My Question 'On Naturopathy Pseudoscience'

here, I cite from the recent Cancer Treatment Centers of America [CTCA] "Twitterview with Katherine Anderson" [see 001., below]; then, I cite the question I asked during that interview and the answer I directly received [see 002., below]; and finally, I parse the nonsense that is 'the essentially naturopathic' [see 003., below]:

001. the Twitterview [as in interview] on 2012-03-14:

001.a. CTCA had stated on Google+:

 "[it reads] join us for our Twitterview with Katherine Anderson Dir. Naturopathic Medicine at CTCA Tulsa which has just started using hashtag #ctcachat. Don't forget we will be giving away a merchandise credit for CNCA supplements to one person who asks a question during the Twitterview [...] CTCA will be hosting a Twitterview with Katherine Anderson, Director of Naturopathic Medicine at CTCA in Tulsa on Wednesday March 14th at 1:30 CST to discuss the role of naturopath...".

Note: CNCA supplements?  I don't need them, and I didn't win them...boo-hoo!  But supplements?   That CTCA business is here.  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

001.b. which directed to "Twitterview with Katherine Anderson¸ ND, FABNO, Director of Naturopathic Medicine at CTCA in Tulsa" [vsc 2012-03-14] which stated:

"CTCA will be hosting a Twitterview with Katherine Anderson, Director of Naturopathic Medicine at CTCA in Tulsa [...] to discuss the role of naturopathic medicine in cancer treatment [...] topics discussed will include: How to deal with side effects of cancer treatment using naturopathic medicine?; What are the possible benefits of acupuncture for cancer patients?; What benefits do supplements offer during and after cancer treatment?; We will ask [I think they meant answer] your questions about naturopathic medicine, as well [...] or more information about Katherine Anderson, please visit http://bit.ly/y1yVNv."

Note: ye old naturopathic oncologist and quackupuncture!

001.c. that CTCA bit.ly link leads to CTCA's "Katherine Anderson, ND, FABNO – Director of Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2012-03-17] which states:

"Katherine Anderson [...] joined the Naturopathic Medicine Department at Southwestern in 2004 [...and is now] the Director of Naturopathic Medicine at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center [...has a] team of naturopaths [...including] Katrina A. Bogdon, ND, FABNO [...] Aisha Chilcoat, MJ, ND [...] Shana Deneen, ND, LAc [...]  Samantha Hoang, ND [...] Daniel Kellman, ND, FABNO [...] Heidi Kussman, ND, FABNO [...] Lucas Tims, ND [...]";

The respective schools that these NDs / NMDs come from are:

CCNM (NDs Anderson, Kussman),

NCNM (ND Bogdon),

SCNM NDs Chilcoat, Deneen, Kellman, Tims),

NUHS (ND Hoang).

"[and they use] natural therapies, such as nutritional supplementation, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and counseling [...] naturopathic treatment plans include natural health products and therapeutics [...and] acupuncture and acupressure treatments [...] Anderson says her overall goal is to 'provide patients with a clear and concise understanding of naturopathic medicine and for them to feel supported in using natural therapies as a powerful part of their cancer fighting plan' [...]";

Now, we know homeopathy is pure bunkum as a therapeutic, and is it considered ethical to sell supplements straight to the patient?  Powerful?  Homeopathy powerful?  Powerful empty remedies.

"[she's a] Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO) [...]";

Yes, oncology.

"CTCA operates the only cancer hospitals in the United States that offer a Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) certified residency program, sponsored through Bastyr University [...]";

Ah, Bastyr.

"[and the page speaks of ND Anderson's] personal commitment to patient care and education [...] she has served as the president of the Oklahoma Association of Naturopathic Physicians [...and] the exceptional care CTCA provides patients [...]";

Do they care to tell us the truth about naturopathy though?  See 003., below. 

001.d. the embedded video from that page above states [vsc 2012-03-15]:

"[in its description] Katherine Anderson, ND, FABNO. Meet Katherine Anderson, the Director of Naturopathic Medicine at our Oklahoma hospital. She talks about her education and training, her role on our patients’ care teams, and what drew her to Cancer Treatment Centers of America [...]";

Ah, education and training in naturopathy of course.

"[in the video she's a] naturopathic oncology provider [...who] help[s] them understand [...] that fully integrative care model [...] the only place nation-wide [...]";

Help me understand.  Really.  Really understand.

002. my question and CTCA's answer, via Google+ was:

question: "'Consumer Health' (ISBN 9781449646455; 2012) labels naturopathy a 'pseudoscience.' Now NDs are self-proclaimed oncologists. Any comments?"

the answer I got, also emailed to me via plus.google.com, was: "Katherine Anderson pointed us to the following resources www.naturopathic.org and www.oncanp.org which talk about the training of licensed naturopathic practitioners. Accredited naturopathic training begins with an undergraduate pre-med degree prior to enrollment in a naturopathic medical school, which is a four year doctoral-level program federally accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education."

Note: well, my summation of these sources is simply this -- "licensed naturopathic" = licensed falsehood.  Doctor-level NONSENSE and IRRATIONALITY and DECEPTION [like this]. The entire Twitterview is up at Storify.  Some tags I'd put on it: #homeopathy #acupuncture #cancertreatment #supplements #censored .  I add "censored" because the question I'd asked via Google+ was ignored on Twitter by them, and someone else's wasn't and answered via Twitter!

003. the easy to find-out truth about all this naturopathy nonsense / absurdity / irrationality:

003.a. what CTCA says [really, they say it themselves]:

I have quite the collection of CTCA telling the world that naturopathy is based upon the science-ejected-for-decades here. Of course, you are not told that it's science-ejected, though -- this framing "life force" / "healing power of nature".  In that sense, therefore, I wonder what ND Anderson's commitment to "exceptional" care and "education" means.  It seems as truthful as their claim that homeopathy is "powerful" -- the powerful scientifically ejected.  In fact, as recently reported from Australia, homeopathy is quite likely to be labeled BASELESS and UNETHICAL.  So, the big question regarding CTCA is: who vetting all this naturopathy junk?  Where was the due diligence?  People TRUST YOU, and they are vulnerable and quite ill.  Sickening, hugely sickening.

003.b. what alma mater's say:

[I'll use only the schools cited above; and this is where the 'junk thought' originates / where people are infected with 'the naturopathy meme' -- State and Federally endorsed, by the way -- so in that sense, there will not be investigation / oversight / intervention -- government would have to find itself guilty, and I highly doubt such ever happens]:

003.b1. CCNM:

we have science claimed upon the for-decades science-ejected.

 

003.b2. NCNM [trunk of the tree!]:

we have science claimed upon the for-decades science-ejected.

003.b3. SCNM:

we have science claimed upon the for-decades science-ejected.

003.b4. NUHS:

we have science [particularly in the school's NAME] claimed upon the for-decades science-ejected.

003.c. what science says [hugely, preponderantly]:

well, you can go within naturopathy and find what science says about multiple facets of the belief system and therapeutics.  Here, I'll stick to the big framing claim: that there is a vital force running physiology and that illness and health are due to its malfunction and its restoration.  But, make no mistake about it: because naturopathy claims that science is whatever you want it to be, huge swaths of the contents of naturopathy are truly 'without scientific support'.  But, I choose the big one here, the hugely 'science-ejected naturopathic essential claim' -- vitalism [wherein "vitalism is that rejected tradition in biology"; it is not about analysis and explanation at all, it is about unnecessary stupefying mysticism].

So, one of my favorite sources is Richard Dawkins. In "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (2008, ISBN 0199216800), which I happen to own, Dawkins states:

"what neither Mendel nor anyone else before 1953 knew was that genes themselves are digital, within themselves [...] life is the execution of programs written using a small digital alphabet in a single, universal machine language. This realization was the hammer blow that knocked the last nail in the coffin of vitalism and, by extension, of dualism. The hammer was wielded, with undisguised youthful relish, by James Watson and Francis Crick [p.030...] for me, the greatest achievement of Watson and Crick was to turn genetics from a branch of wet and squishy physiology into a branch of information technology, in the process slaying [...] the ghost of vitalism [p.226]."

Note: and it is as simple as that.  Nonscientific FOR DECADES UPON DECADES.  As scientific as the Tooth Fairy.  Therein is the "natural" and the "integrative."  No thanks.

004. of course, my biggest question besides "how do they get away with this?" is:

"why do they let absurdists and poseurs anywhere near critically ill people?"

Portland, Oregon Naturopathy College's 2011 Yearly Economic Impact Dollar Amount Released

here, I cite from a recent article on NCNM and its 2011 effect on Portland, Oregon's economy [see 001., below]; then, I point out that both NCNM and the State of Oregon are partners in what is basically what I call 'licensed falsehood' [see 002.,below]:

001. Matthew Kish of the Portland Business Journal reports in "College of Natural Medicine economic impact: $55.8M" (2011-03-13)[vsc 2012-03-13]:

"Portland’s National College of Natural Medicine [NCNM...] employs approximately 277 and has 550 graduate students [...and] had a $55.8 million impact on the local economy in 2011, according to a new study [...] the college paid for [...] among its 2011 economic activity:  $25.8 million in direct spending on payroll and other operating costs, $10.9 million in indirect spending on goods and other services, $19.2 million in other spending related to the increased purchasing power of households impacted by the college. The economic activity generated 613 jobs [...] the college is the only naturopathic medical school in Oregon so it generates spending that otherwise would not occur in Portland [...and the study] estimates that [for] every $1 million the college spends generates an additional $1.2 million [is] spent by others. The majority of the college’s revenue comes from tuition, fees, gifts, contracts and sales."

Note: fascinating.

002. NCNM and OBNM [birds of a falsehood feather...sleep together]:

002.a. now, NCNM is the trunk of the naturopathic tree:

and it is only in the past couple of years that they changed their name from "Naturopathic" to "Natural."  In the college's own words, you can read how it falsely labels as science, the hugely science-ejected.  This ruse been going on for DECADES, not just for the year 2011.  So, now we can say WOW, a lot of commerce happens around NCNM based upon an essentially STUPID CONTEXT, yearly:  institutionally, the science-ejected wrongly labeled as within science as objective scientific fact.

002.b. in partnership with NCNM is the State of Oregon itself:

with their web page "Naturopathy" [vsc 2012-03-13], which I really just can get enough mileage out of, really, in terms of its absurdity, irrationality, nonsensicality etc.:

"naturopathic [...] principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis [...#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. [...] the vitalistic tradition of medicine [...] methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient’s vital force [...] illness is a purposeful process of the organism.  The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself [...] naturopathic philosophy serves as the basis for naturopathic practice.  The current scope of naturopathic practice includes, but is not limited to [...] homeopathic medicine [...which] works on a subtle yet powerful electromagnetic level, gently acting to strengthen the body’s healing and immune response."

Note: not fascinating, a MAJOR CONCERN in terms, utmost for me, HUMAN RIGHTS.  Licensed falsehood marches on: mandatory medieval theoretical nonsense by-oath required to be falsely postured as scientific, and hugely science-ejected therapeutics falsely postured as powerful.

Yet, we're told in this 2007 NCNM document [vsc 2012-03-13]:
"the National College of Natural Medicine is committed to using a science-based curriculum to train naturopathic physicians and Chinese medicine practitioners."

Me arse.