Licensed Falsehood: Naturopathy's Craniosacral Nonsense via ND Lee

here, I do a Google.com web search of naturopathy's craniosacral therapy [CST; see 001., below]; then, a word on such nonsense from the Nightingale Collaboration [see 002., below]:

001. a Google.com web search with the parameters "naturopathic craniosacral", without the quotes, leads this weekend to this first-page result:

001.a. Seattle's Lee, D.Y.C. (ND Bastyr 2009) who states in "Craniosacral Therapy at Seattle Naturopathic Center" [vsc 2011-04-11]:

"craniosacral therapy started in the osteopathic community in the early 1990's as a way to free restrictions in the cranial bones and fascia. By freeing the cranial bones and fascia, the practitioner is able to assist the body in regaining normal function in the nervous, lymph, hormonal, myofascial, and gastrointestinal system [really!]. Craniosacral therapy is a whole person therapy focusing on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Craniosacral therapy is founded on the belief that the body knows exactly how to heal [coded vitalism, actually...] the primary goal in a cranialsacral session is to not only treat the condition, but maximize your overall health [really!]."

Note: nonsense premised on nonsense. Of course, we're told by ND Lee in "Welcome to Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2011-04-11]:

"as an organized profession, naturopathic medicine is committed to on-going research and development of its science and incorporates elements of scientific modern medicine [...] the following principles are the foundation upon which naturopathic medical practice is built: the healing power of nature, vis medicatrix naturae [HPN-VMN]: naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent ordered and intelligent self-healing process [coded vitalism] in the person. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacle to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process [coded vitalism]."

so, a science and professional claim. Yet, I cannot help but notice that there is naturopathy's central premise, HPN-VMN, and it is not being transparently communicated as the science-ejected vitalism-spiritism that it truly is.  Such opacity is not professional, and is antithetical to the transparency that science requires. 

but, in that same document, have no fear because vitalism gets mentioned.  We're told:

"homeopathic medicine [...is a] powerful system of medicine [...] homeopathic medicines, when properly prescribed, effect the body’s 'vital force' and strengthen its innate ability to heal."

wow, empty remedies are claimed as powerful though inert, and vitalistic figmentations are claimed as in command of physiology and healing.

see, nonsense therapies require nonsensical premises.

002. meanwhile:

the Nightingale Collaboration throws craniosacral therapy under the bus this month, where it belongs actually, and did the same last month with homeopathy.  Coincidentally, they both are huge nonsense therapies touted by North American naturopathy as "science-based".

so what does licensure of naturopathy do?  It creates a state of licensed falsehood, protecting the hucksters while undermining the public's understanding of science, professionalism and ethical medical practice.

The Quackometer on Homeopathy: "Cult-Like" [and Parallels to Naturopathy]

here, I cite from a recent post at The Quackometer regarding homeopathy [see 001., below]; then, I suggest some similarities homeopathy has to naturopathy [see 002., below]; and I provide a specific example [see 003., below]:

001. Andy Lewis writes in "Escaping the Cult of Homeopathy" (2010-12-13):

"I would not be the first to suggest that believers in alternative medicine often display the traits of members of cults [...and] of all alternative medicines homeopathy, to me, looks the most cult-like [...e.g.] it defines itself in opposition to what it calls 'allopathy' and in doing so creates a straw man of what medicine is today [...] homeopathy is so strictly defined by its opposition to modern mainstream medicine that it will always lie at the fringes in a pseudoscientific bubble [...] it must attack and denounce alternatives – such as scientific medicine – without any form of compromise [...] the cult model explains why virtually no homeopaths have condemned the murderous practice of using sugar pills to treat fatal diseases like HIV and malaria [...this] thinking of the cult [...this] cult-like dark side of homeopathy [...this] pseudo-medical and superstitious cult [...homeopathy apostate] Wendy describes life inside the cult of homeopathy [...] Wendy talks about how the training for homeopaths is vital for creating the cult-like mentality [...] questioning was highly discouraged [...] 'my critical abilities were silenced within the first year – not by others – but because it would be considered judgmental in that society [...] I now see homeopathy as the disease.  I think it is a form of madness' [...]  Wendy has found the current sceptical blogging about homeopathy on the internet a useful tool in 'de-programming' and re-engaging with a critical approach to examining the claims of homeopathy."

Note: there are many parallels between homeopathy and naturopathy.  And I have, under oath, labeled naturopathy "cultic mystical weirdness", I must admit.

002. parallels:

It is a fact that: 

a) ND web pages often have a "FAQs" section rhetorically posing the question 'what is the difference between homeopathy and naturopathy?'

b) naturopathy labels modern medicine 'allopathy';

c) both homeopathy and naturopathy are based on science-ejected archaic / medieval ideas such as vitalism.

003. for example,  Lee, T.S. (ND Bastyr 1986) states in "What Is Naturopathic Medicine?" [vsc 2010-12-13]:

"what is the difference between a naturopath and a homeopath? [...] homeopaths use only the homeopathic approach, whereas naturopaths train in several forms of diagnosis and treatment, one of which is homeopathy [...which] stimulates the patient's vital force to help resolve the disease [...paralleling] the philosophy of naturopathic medicine: living things have an innate ability to heal themselves [coded vitalism].  Our vital force promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and therefore self-healing [...] naturopathic treatments [...and] techniques and methods have long been respected throughout the world.  While modern allopathic medicine is a youngster of less than 200 years old, natural medicine has been the primary medicine used by most of the human community even into the 21st Century."

Note: this result came about by using google.com and web-searching >"what is the difference" homeopathy naturopathy<.  It was the second result.