Enshrining 'The-Big-Stupid-Absurdity': The State of Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners @library.state.or.us

here, I reiterate the fundamental explanation of 'what naturopathy is' as provided by the State of Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners [SOBNE; see 001., below]; then, I illustrate the 'big stupid absurdity' that Oregon shows naturopathy to be [see 002., below]:

001. SOBNE states in "Naturopathy" [vsc 2010-07-19]:

001.a. first SOBNE's overarching science claim:

"naturopathic physicians (N.D.) are primary care practitioners trained as specialist in natural medicine. They are educated in conventional medical sciences [...] naturopathic medicine emerges from six underlying principles of healing. these principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis [...] a growing body of scientific knowledge validates the naturopathic approach [...] scientific research in Europe and Asia is demonstrating [etc.]."

Note: science, science, science.

001.b. and now for what's within that 'science' label, 'the naturopathic':

"naturopathic medicine is heir to the vitalistic [vitalism!] tradition of medicine in the Western world, emphasizing the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the inherent healing capacity of the person [coded vitalism]. Methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient’s vital force [vitalism!], respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process [coded vitalism and teleology!...] it is these principles that distinguish the profession [!!!] from other medical approaches: [#1] the healing power of nature, vis medicatrix naturae [coded vitalism!]: the body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health [coded vitalism!]. The healing process [coded vitalism!] is ordered and intelligent [teleology!]; nature heals through the response of the life force [vitalism!]. The physician’s role is to facilitate and augment this process [coded vitalism!...] first, do no harm, primum no nocere: illness is a purposeful process [teleology!] of the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, an expression of the life force [vitalism!] attempting to heal itself [coded teleology!]. Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this healing process [coded vitalism and teleology!]. The physician’s actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis medicatrix naturae [coded vitalism!]. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes [coded vitalism and teleology!] are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized [...#2] causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual [supernaturalism!...#4] health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual [supernaturalism!], mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors [...#5] the physician must also make a commitment to his/her personal and spiritual [supernaturalism!] development in order to be a good teacher."

Note: so, lets be clear here.  We are being told, in sum by the State of Oregon, that these three discrete ideas survive scientific scrutiny and therein are science-supported: vitalism, supernaturalism-spiritism, and teleology.  Now, SOBNE has been replaced by the State of Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine [SOBNM], which hosts the same web page and labeling [vsc 2010-07-19].  So, these labelings go on.

002. well, vitalism is science-EJECTED, supernaturalisms of all kind are science-EJECTED, and vitalism's companion teleology is also science-EJECTED.  These ideas are neither science-supported or within science.  So, in sum, SOBNE is telling us -- without any warning of any kind regarding this absurdity and in fact uses instead a label of 'professionalism-trustworthiness' -- that something is what it hugely isn't.  Specifically, through SOBNE and SOBNM, we're being falsely informed that the science-exterior is equal to the science-interior.  That is absurd, that is stupid, and at this scale, that is big.

Note: I propose that there be set up, with the liability distributed amongst the entire North American naturopathy apparatus, a "Naturopathy Career Damage Fund" [NCDF].  Minimally, it would cover victims of 'naturopathic academic fraud.'  If Oregon wishes to engage in fraud like this, I think those sucked down 'the rabbit-hole of naturopathic dumb-assedness' / 'victimized by false naturopathic labels to pursue this absurd naturopathy thing', should get restitution the way victims of many other kinds of frauds do.

I will detail that NCDF in my next post [actually, I held this off until post #300 here].

The reason I've used the term 'enshrined' is because Oregon seems to now be archiving its retired web pages -- even the absurd, falsehood promoting ones -- at library.state.or.us.

Overall, I call naturopathy's science claim "exhibit A", naturopathy's vitalism "exhibit B", and the preponderant scientific rejection of vitalism "exhibit C".