AANP Entails Naturopathy's Essential Vitalism: Their ISBN 0785319840, 1997

here, I cite from an American Association of Naturopathic Physicians' [AANP] endorsed book wherein naturopathy's science-ejected central premise known as vitalism is clearly-ish stated [see 001, below]:

001. in "A Guide to Alternative Medicine: Ancient and Modern Therapies to Expand Your Medical Horizons" (ISBN 0785319840, 1997), the AANP states [my comments are in bold]:

"this publication was reviewed by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians  [...specifically] Kathi Head, N.D., Rita Bettenburg, N.D., Tim Birdsall, N.D., and Lori Kimatan, N.D. [...] all members of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians [...] the AANP's mission [...is] to transform the health care system [...] by incorporating the principles of naturopathic medicine [imprint...]";

so, the principles are that-which-they-seek-to-superimpose, and the book seems to represent a preponderance of 'AANP naturopath approval';

"Eric S. Jones, N.D., Dean, Naturopathic Medical Program, Bastyr University [...says] the information [...here on] natural-health [...] is presented from an objective perspective [...] if your goal is to be an informed, educated consumer [recommendations page...]";

the irony is killing me, that great "objective" claim upon this hugely subjective / beliefy stuff that they claim to accurately represent and actually educate about;

 "the principles on which it's based and the methods it employs are much older, many dating to ancient times [...they're] time-tested [...] naturopathy operates on the basis of six principles of healing [...#1] the healing power of nature [HPN...] healing mechanisms in the body and mind [HMBM...] inherent healing systems [IHS...] the body's way to heal itself [BWHI...] the natural healing process [NHP...] the body's healing power [BHP...] naturopathic medicine is natural medicine [...using] a variety of treatments that are intended to work with the body's natural healing mechanisms [BNHM...p.294...]";

old / ancient doesn't mean correct, at all, and time-tested just means persistent, not scientific. So, there's HPN-HMBM-IHS-BWHI-NHP-BHP-BNHM, naturopathy's euphemisms for...

"[#5] naturopathic physicians share information with their patients [...] therapies used in naturopathy [p.295...include] homeopathy -- the science of homeopathy [...it] dovetails well with the naturopathic philosophy of the healing power of nature [see 260-264...] naturopathic medicine is, by no means, frozen in time [...] practitioners follow advances in science [...] as long as they are in keeping with the philosophy of naturopathy [p.297...] first two years  of training are in basic medical science [p.299...]";

I wish they'd share the scientific fact that homeopathy is not a science!  If science has ejected HPN and naturopathy is still there, then they ARE frozen in time.  Science is helpful, apparently, provided it doesn't get in the way of science-ejected principles.  I think it is obvious that science is subservient to their beliefs; 

"oriental medicine: naturopathy has a great deal in common with oriental healing philosophies [...] the oriental concept of life force, or qi, and the naturopathic concept of the healing power of nature are similar in theory if not language [..] traditional Chinese medicine places primary emphasis on the balance of qi [...] or vital energy [...] this vital energy comprises two parts: yin and yang [p.346...] diagnosis aims to detect patterns of disharmony or imbalance in vital energy [...] treatment seeks to help individuals re-balance this vital energy [p.347...] vital energy, or qi, flows through certain pathways in the body called meridians [p.169...] the Chinese believe qi [...] or vital energy, is responsible for health, and that imbalances of qi results in illness.  Acupuncture is used to correct the flow of qi [p.173...]"; 

and there it is, the science-ejected vitalistic that is the basis of the naturopathic.

002. so:

this book is a great 'Rosetta Stone' to get at that-which-naturopathy-so-often-codes.  This was published a year before I went to naturopathy school.  Naturopathy at this time was stating that it is "science-based" and "not a belief system."

ND Birdsall on the AANP Youtube Channel - Naturopathic Oncology is VERY Scientific

here, I compare contrary claims regarding naturopathic oncology FROM WITHIN THE SAME CANCER HOSPITAL.  First, there's the AANP Youtube.com channel who has CTCA ND Birdsall stating in a CTCA partially-funded video series that the naturopathic approach is "very scientific" [see 001., below]; then, there's what CTCA says about naturopathy, which is that it is based in-fact upon the hugely science-exterior [see 002., below]:

001. Birdsall, T. (ND Bastyr 1985) states in "Naturopathic Physicians - Show #2, Chapter 2: Integrating Cancer Treatment (2 of 5)" [vsc 2010-10-02]:

"we take a very scientific, evidence-based approach [00.04.06...] utilizing scientific rationales, scientific studies, and clinical evidence [00.04.19...and we're reminded that this series was partly sponsored by] Cancer Treatment Centers of America [CTCA; see here]."

Note: science, science, science.

002. naturopathy's science-ejected basis via CTCA:

002.a. CTCA states in "Naturopathic Medicine for Pharyngeal Cancer" [vsc 2010-10-02]:

"listed below are some of the founding principles of naturopathic medicine [...#2] the healing power of nature: naturopathy applies the healing power of nature and the body's inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force. Your naturopathic practitioner's role in pharyngeal cancer treatment is to facilitate and augment this natural healing process."

Note: yet, we are also told by CTCA in "Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-09-30]:

"[that naturopathy is] scientifically grounded."

002.b. but, such "life force" vitalism is science-ejected.  So, naturopathy's overall absurdity is that it claims a label that the essential naturopathic is in-fact excluded from: science.

ND Birdsall at the AANP Blog: "Dethrone" the RDBPCT!

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.