here, I cite from a recent AANP blog post by ND Birdsall [see 001., below]; then, from his employer Cancer Treatment Centers of America [CTCA] and its naturopathic absurdity [see 002., below]:
001. Birdsall, T. (ND Bastyr 1985), the AANP ND of the Year 2009, states in "The Problem with Research" (2010-06-10) [vsc 2010-06-13]:
"I began to ponder the question, 'what’s wrong with research?' A part of me becomes enraged at the reductionistic, allopathic [!!!], biomedical model [really!], which breaks things down into components so small that all synergism, all interdependence is stripped away [bullshit!], and then declares those components to be ineffective [ah, the 'closed-minded' accusation...] for naturopathic medicine to survive and thrive in the 21st century climate of evidence-based medicine [...] we should be willing to judge ourselves critically and objectively, and subject our therapies (and ourselves) to scientific scrutiny [great idea, you were SUPPOSEDLY DOING THIS ALREADY!...] in the end, we must create and validate the tools to dethrone the randomized controlled trial [RDBPCT] as the gold standard, and construct new ways [read: easier ways!] to validate clinical approaches to health issues. Much as the homeopaths of 2+ centuries ago [!!!] created the proving as a way to better understand and utilize their remedies, we must refuse to be limited by the way conventional medicine views health and disease [in other words, lets lower the bar and not demand quality evidence!...] only then will we be able to use the tools of research [weakened!] to promote and defend naturopathic medicine [because naturopathy has no quality evidence when standards are high!...sidebar] 'Physicians Who Listen' is the blog of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the national professional society representing licensed or licensable naturopathic physicians who are graduates of four-year, residential graduate programs. Naturopathic medicine is based on the belief [I'll say!] that the human body has an innate healing ability [coded vitalism]. Naturopathic doctors teach their patients to use diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and natural therapies to enhance their bodies’ ability to ward off and combat disease [coded vitalism]."
Note: well, sounds to me like naturopathy wants to greatly lower the bar by getting rid of rigorous inquiry. Once homeopathy is offered as a shining example, well...we've then hugely entered absurdity. It seems that what is preferred is vagarity over 'quality of inquiry.' Yes, critical, objective, scientific scrutiny of naturopathy is needed. It has actually happened. It doesn't seem like such has been done from within naturopathy. Yet, naturopathy is claiming such a 'has been done already status' when it labels itself "professional" and "science-based." When critical, objective, scientific scrutiny occurs -- from without because they don't do it themselves within -- naturopathy whines and claims alternate standards. The problem isn't what's wrong with research, the problem is a certain unethical sectarian pseudoscience amalgam.
002. CTCA, where Birdsall works as "Vice President of Integrative Medicine" states:
002.a. in "Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-06-13]:
"naturopathic medicine [...] makes use of time-tested, scientifically grounded, natural methods to strengthen the body’s ability to heal itself [coded vitalism...] this plan will include personalized natural therapies -- backed by scientific research -- to fortify you before, during and after your cancer treatment."
Note: so the claim is that naturopathy is science.
002.b. in "Kidney Cancer Treatments – Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-06-13]:
"the following principles are the foundation for the practice of naturopathic medicine:[#1] the healing power of nature: your 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: ah, ye ol' science-ejected life force. Not science, really.
So when is what's science actually absurdly what is science-ejected? Naturopathy.
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