Saturday, May 14, 2011

Naturopathic Irrationality Microcosm: New York State's ND Lisanti and the Qi-eesy 'Nature' of Naturopathy...and Scientific Consensus

here, I cite from the web pages of New York State ND Lisanti, wherein science as a commerce-label is placed upon the science-ejected [see 001., below]; then, I cite from a recent source regarding that science-ejected and essential-to-naturopathy vitalistic concept [see 002., below]:

001. Lisanti, F. (ND NCNM) states [for his youtube site, click here]:

001.a. the claim that naturopathy is science in:

001.a.i. in "Definition of Naturopathic Medicine" [needs vsc]:

"naturopathic medicine is a [...] science [...] naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles upon which its practice is based. These principles are continually re-examined in the light of scientific advances. The techniques of naturopathic medicine include [...the] scientific and empirical [...NDs are] comprehensively trained in the science of natural healthcare."

Note: science, science, science, science.

001.a.ii. in "Naturopathic Medicine Clinic in Westchester, NY" [vsc 2010-07-30]:

"[in the video] naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches of medical science [...in the description] naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles upon which its practice is based. These principles are continually re-examined in the light of scientific advances."

Note: yes, that overarching claim that naturopathy is within medical science and filters its contents through scientific scrutiny!

001.a.iii. in "About Classical Chinese Medicine" [vsc 2010-07-30]:

"the time-honored science of classical Chinese medicine (CCM) [...] CCM remains firmly committed to its ancient roots. CCM is a science in its own right."

Note: science, science.

001.a.iv. in "IMS Frequently Asked Questions" [vsc 2010-07-30]:

"naturopathic medicine [...] incorporates scientific advances from medical disciplines throughout the world. Many of the individual therapies used in naturopathic medical practice have been scientifically validated [...] the academic training in medical sciences of naturopathic and conventional physicians is similar."

Note: science, science, science.

001.a.v. in "Does Naturopathic Medicine Work?" [vsc 2010-08-01]:

"does naturopathic medicine work effectively? Naturopathic medicine has its own unique body of knowledge [...] it also incorporates scientific advances [...] many of the individual therapies used in naturopathic medical practice have been scientifically validated especially in the areas of [etc....including] homeopathy, acupuncture [...] the trend is that those naturopathic methods which are tested in well-designed studies are validated."

Note:

001.a.vi. in "The History of Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-08-01]:

"the naturopathic profession is committed to ongoing scientific research and development [...per] modern scientific methods."

Note:


"[the following smarmy language] it's with the intention of inspiration and integrity that our highly trained doctor creates customized health plans that synergize the best of healing arts with contemporary natural medical science."

Note: many pages states this smarmyness.

001.a.viii. in "Growing by Knowing: Wheat Grass – WOW!" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"a scientist named Charles Schnabel who was looking to perfect chicken’s health first discovered the nutritive powers of wheat grass in the 1930s."

Note: science


"modern organic farming methods that include a wide basis of scientific knowledge and thousands of years of history and experience."

Note: science.

001.a.x. in "Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"scientific research indicates that tui na, Chinese massage, and movement therapies like qigong and yoga can reduce pain and improve symptoms in fibromyalgia patients."

Note: science.

001.a.xi. in "Therapies" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"naturopathic treatments [...] this practice is the science, philosophy and art of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness, using natural therapies and medicines [...] the naturopathic approach to diet and nutrition has been validated in many scientifically based professional journals on nutrition and dietary sciences [...] scientific research is demonstrating that some plant substances have comparable effects to synthetic drugs in clinical situations [...] naturopathic doctors are extensively trained in the art and science of botanical medicine."

Note: more science, science, science, science.

001.a.xii. in "Natural Health and Healing and Your Child" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"perhaps you are among this group, or maybe you are among the growing number of parents who are look to ancient and modern systems for natural healing as they are backed by scientific research."

Note: science.

001.b. the reality that naturopathy is based on the vitalistic / science-ejected:

001.b.i. in "Naturopathic Doctors" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"in short, naturopathic doctors or NDs design treatments that work with your vital force [VF]."

Note: VF.  In short.

001.b.ii. in "Spring Liver Cleansing: The Basics" [vsc 2010-07-31, 2011-05-11]:

"a clean liver is advantageous for healthy regulation of your vital life force (qi) [VLF, Q] and blood as they flow through your body."

Note: VLF = Q.

001.b.iii. in "Cleansing the Liver for Spring" [vsc 2010-07-31]:

"a healthy liver is like a tree swaying in the wind. The tree is flexible because proper nutrients are flowing to all areas of its trunk and branches. If the tree is unhealthy, a strong wind will snap off the branches cut-off from the plant’s life force [LF]."

Note: LF.


"acupuncture was developed in China 3000 years ago to manage the flow of life force or qi [LF, Q] throughout the body."

Note: LF = Q

001.b.v. in "The History of Acupuncture" [vsc 2011-05-11]:

"acupuncture was and still is a major mode of treatment for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners. A direct translation from this early text describes acupuncture as putting holes in the body to regulate qi [Q...] what is qi? The literal translation of qi from Chinese means 'breath' just as our English word 'spirit' comes from the Latin 'spiritus' or 'breath.' Qi can be understood as your life force or vital energy [LF, VE]. You can imagine pathways of qi flowing through your body [...] qi operates like [...] water ways [...] the pathways where qi flows are called meridians [...] if qi cannot take its normal course, excess qi will accumulate at the impasse and other areas of your body will not receive the vitality needed to be well. Improper flow manifests as pain or sickness, be it a tummy ache or insomnia [...] acupuncture is used to regulate the flow of qi by inserting thin metal needles at specific points along the meridians where qi flows [...] information gathered during the diagnostic process will inform your acupuncturist where qi is imbalanced. Then, he or she will work along meridians where qi flows to problem area [...e.g.] placement strengthens the flow of qi to the kidney if it is deficient or to drains qi if there is excess [...] to remove blockages of energy [E] and to promote free flow [...] some patients say that they feel a pleasurable sensation when a desired point is located. We call this 'the arrival of the qi'."

Note: Q = LF = VE = E.  Kind of like the arrival of the Tooth Fairy.
 
001.c. tracing it back -- Lisanti has both an ND and an LAc from NCNM -- we can see that his alma mater, NCNM, is the source for this at-odds irrationality of the science-based science-ejected:
 
001.c.1. regarding naturopathy, science, and vitalism, NCNM states:
 
that naturopathy is science and contains nonscience, so: science subset naturopathy subset nonscience.  Wacko.
 
001.c.2. regarding TCM, science, and vitalism [spiritism] NCNM states:
 
is a kind of supernatural science per "the School of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) at NCNM [...is] committed to training clinicians capable of tapping the true power of this ancient yet timeless system, which is both a highly sophisticated medical science and a deeply spiritual art form."
 
002. what science says, outright regarding vitalism / supernaturalism:
 
002.a. first, a crowd-sourced product, Wikipedia's article "Supernatural":
 
"the supernatural or supranatural [...] is anything above or beyond what one holds to be natural or exists outside natural law and the observable universe. Science limits its explanations for phenomena to natural explanations, a process known as methodological naturalism, and cannot consider supernatural explanations, as they cannot be investigated empirically. To explain something using natural causes and excluding supernatural causes is to naturalize it. To explain something as resulting from supernatural causes is to supernaturalize it.  Supernatural themes are often associated with paranormal and occult ideas, suggesting the possibility of interaction with the supernatural by means of summoning or trance. In secular societies, religious miracles are typically perceived as supernatural claims, as are spells and curses, divination, and the afterlife. Characteristics for phenomena claimed as supernatural are anomaly, uniqueness, and uncontrollability. Thus, the conditions in which such phenomena are thought to manifest may not be reproducible for scientific examination. Supernatural phenomena are sometimes referred to as paranormal. The field of study dealing with the supernatural is sometimes called metaphysics or the occult."

Note: a nice home for naturopathy and TCM ideas.

002.b. Dawkins, R. (PhD{evolutionary biology} UO) states in "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (2008; ISBN 0199216800):
 
"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, as I suggested above, the ghost of vitalism [p.226]."

003. meanwhile:
 
naturopathy and TCM, particularly by way of NCNM, are stuck in the the archaic / premodern nontypification of knowledge that I 've termed "epistemic conflation."  
 
but, we know better -- we're better than such dunderheadedness.
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