here, I purposely collide two stances regarding homeopathy, one from the position of scientific skepticism and rigor via the James Randi Education Foundation [JREF] blog, and one from the sectarian pseudoscience I'll call the 'North American Naturopathy Apparatus' [NANA; see 001., below]:
001. MD Novella writes in "FDA Ensures Magic Rituals Are Done Properly" (2012-08-20) [my comments are in unquoted bold]:
"homeopathy is pure, 100%, unadulterated nonsense. They are sugar pills [...] on which a magic ritual has been cast [...and] they don't work [...] homeopathic potions have been tested in clinical trials and they don't work [...] 'the findings of currently available Cochrane reviews of studies of homeopathy do not show that homeopathic medicines have effects beyond placebo' [...] homeopathy is bunk [...] homeopathy is quackery [...and speaks of] the pseudoscientific status of homeopathy [...] ";
did he mention THEY DON'T WORK?! Usually, magical potions don't work in this here physical universe.
"[and regarding the FDA's criticisms of the manufacturing of these magic beans and unicorn tears] no one in the homeopathic community noticed that 1/6 [of the] bottle[s] of homeopathic product coming out of this company were just sugar pills. That's probably because the other 5/6 of the bottles are also just sugar pills [...that] there isn't the same amount of fairy dust in every pill";
this is where one starts to feel very VERY weird, like Bizzaro World weird.
002. meanwhile, NANA states:
002.a. via their national US organization, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians in "Position Paper - Homeopathy" [saved 2012-08-20]:
"homeopathy has been an integral part of naturopathic medicine since its inception and is a recognized specialty for which the naturopathic profession has created a distinct specialty organization, the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians [...] homeopathy has been recognized, through rigorous testing and experimentation, as having significant scientific evidence supporting its efficacy and safety [...] it is the position of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians that [...] homeopathy is taught in the Naturopathic Colleges and its practice should be included in the naturopathic licensing laws. Naturopathic physicians recognize other licensed practitioners of the healing arts who are properly trained in homeopathy";
properly trained in potions of magic beans and unicorn tears.
Note: well, that's dated 1993 and still up on their site. There's also their more recent web page "Homeopathy: A Primer" [vsc 2012-08-20]:
"by Christopher Johnson ND, Thrive Naturopathic [...]";
by the way, I do not believe this ND is the District 9 Christopher Johnson. I believe he is this one.
"what conditions respond to homeopathy? Homeopathy is a complete system of medicine, and as such is helpful with the entire spectrum of human illness [...] how effective is homeopathy? Homeopathy’s effectiveness is supported by a large body of research in the medical literature [...]";
really.
"only in naturopathic medical schools do students formally learn homeopathy both in the academic and clinical settings [...] all other medical professionals learn homeopathy outside of their official academic and clinical training. To find a naturopathic doctor in your area who is trained in homeopathy, visit our Find a Doctor page [...]";
yes, been there, HATED IT. So, the AANP is quite adamant that homeopathy is FUSED to naturopathy and that it works. And they promote it.
002.b. via their national Canadian organization, the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors in "Questions: All Questions":
"naturopathic doctors use a variety of non-toxic, non-pharmaceutical treatments. All naturopathic doctors in Canada are trained in the following natural therapies [...] homeopathic remedies are minute dilutions of plant, animal and mineral substances designed to stimulate the body's 'vital force' and strengthen its innate ability to heal";
a claim of efficacy by way of an imaginary Tooth Fairy -like force.
002.c. via their North American school consortia, the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges in "Naturopathic Physicians Are Rigorously Trained" [vsc 2012-08-20]:
"licensed naturopathic physicians have attended four-year professional-level programs at accredited institutions, where they have been educated in the same basic sciences as allopathic physicians. Some member schools in the AANMC actually require more hours of basic and clinical science than many top allopathic medical schools [...] students of naturopathic medicine use the Western medical sciences as a foundation [...] they offer the world a healing paradigm founded on a rational balance of tradition, science and respect for nature [...] while earning their degree, doctors of naturopathic medicine learn virtually all the modalities of proven natural therapies [...including] homeopathy";
so, there's this science subset naturopathy subset homeopathy irrationality claimed as rational.
and the naturopathy licensed falsehood apparatus marches on.
003. what I hope to see in the future:
restitution for anyone who feels they've been treated fraudulently / wrongly / falsely in the past decades by naturopathy. I can't see how the racket can continue based upon the sentiments for justice that exist in a civilized modern society. They just don't realize they are insolvent already.
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