AANP's President: There's Supposedly 6000 Licensed NDs in North America

here,  I quote from the AANP President [see 001., below], then I visit his practice web site [see 002., below] and go a'searching for a transparent explanation of the central premise of naturopathy [not provided!]:

001. the American Association of Naturopathic Physician's [AANP] President Hangee-Bauer, C. (ND Bastyr 1984, LAc SFCA 1988) states in the AANP blog page "Naturopathic Leaders and Leadership" (2010-04-21)[vsc 2010-04-25]:

"it is currently estimated that there are about 6000 licensed NDs in the United States and Canada."

Note: perhaps that number is accurate. Though, exaggerating it would be beneficial to the ND movement.  Is naturopathy THAT disorganized that they can't count active North American licensees?  I don't think so. Remember, they are claiming professionalism.  In fact, on that blog page, "profess" shows up 8 times.

002. now, a short point I'd like to make about the current AANP President's own web pages describing [supposedly] naturopathy -- you can't get naturopathy's context presented to you in a transparent manner (what's new!):

002.a. Hangee-Bauer ND writes in "Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-04-25]:

"naturopathic medicine is a primary health care profession which emphasizes the prevention and treatment of disease, maintenance of optimal health, and promotion of the individual’s inherent self-healing process which naturopathic physicians refer to as the 'vis medicatrix naturae,' the healing power of nature [VMN-HPN...] naturopathic doctors follow six key principles in their practices: [#1] the healing power of nature. Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process [ISHP] in each of us which is both ordered and intelligent [teleological!]. NDs act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this self-healing ability [SHC...] NDs study the same basic and clinical sciences as do other medical students."

Note: there's the claim of professionalism, science, and VMN-HPN-ISHP-SHC.  But, nowhere on that page is the actual context of naturopathy transparently communicated - a vitalistic science-ejected figmentation is responsible for sickness and healing.  Instead, you get camouflage, and that is not what science and professionalism do!  Remember, this is the HEAD of the AANP.

002.b. Hangee-Bauer ND writes in "Frequently Asked Questions" [vsc 2010-04-25]:

"naturopathic medicine is a distinct [etc....] naturopathic doctors [...] follow six important principles in caring for their patients [...#3] trust in the healing power of nature - the body’s inherent wisdom to heal itself. [#4] Treat the whole person - view the body as an integrated whole in all its physical and spiritual dimensions [...] both NDs and MDs attend four-year graduate level accredited medical schools, with similar training in the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pathology [...and we're told NDs are] using scientific methods.[...] according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture works by promoting the smooth flow of qi."

Note: so, again that camouflaged vitalism while ironically the ND claims that naturopathic is distinct.  But, you can see that supernaturalism that naturopathy also contains while claiming science-expertise.  Qi, of course, is vitalism and a figmentation.  It is interesting how many NDs are also LAcs - the vitalistic underpinnings of both are quite compatible.

002.c. Hangee-Bauer ND writes in "Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & Acupuncture" [vsc 2010-04-25]:

"TCM is based on the concept of qi (pronounced chee) which is the life force or vital energy. Qi is the animating force that serves to warm us, protect us from external pathogenic factors, promote the functions of the body and hold our organs and tissues in place."

Note: that's vitalism.  Now, qi is on that page 8 times.

002.d. now, I'll bridge all these vitalistic euphemisms from 002.a. and 002.b. with what I may call a "Rosetta Stone" web page from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine.  UB states in "Six Guiding Principles: Guiding Principle #1" [vsc 2010-04-25] [archived here]:

"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."

Note: so, naturopathy is vitalistic.  No matter how it represents itself, which is mainly in an opaque / science-disguised / falsely labeled manner.  

And to quote from the song "For America" by Jackson Browne:

"with everyone from the President on down trying to keep it from you."