Naturopathic.ca.gov Decrees Nonsense [Homeopathy] is Now Science

here, I cite from the results of a Google.com web search ["site:naturopathic.ca.gov homeopathy", without the quotes] of the web site of the State of California, which falsely decrees that homeopathy is science [see 001., below]; then, I cite from the 2010 Evidence Check that FURTHER damned homeopathy into archaic, science-rejected, superstitious oblivion [see 002., below]:

001. the State of California states, as an extension of their Department of Consumer Affairs no less [how absurdly ironic!]

001.a. regarding homeopathy:

001.a1. in "Naturopathic Formulary Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes: December 11, 2005" [vsc 2010-12-28]:

"Chairman Wannigman [...] requested an addition of 'homeopathics would be classified as a general group' [...and] discussed the opinion that was distributed by the Department of Consumer Affairs from Norine Marks regarding questions raised from the committee on homeopathy and by the Advisory Council [...] there is also the continued restriction of drugs that are not considered medications available to lay homeopathic persons [...] homeopathic medicine: homeopathic pharmacies wanted clarification [...] the original language said that naturopathic doctors may prescribe homeopathy [...] Norine Marks was asked to discuss the creation of language that could define homeopathic medicines in a sense broader that those listed in the former homeopathic pharmacopoeia [...] the medications that are approved at homeopathic allowable potency and constructed specifically for homeopathic use should be made available to a naturopath."

Note: so, they've spent quite an amount of verbiage / ink / electrons on homeopathy.  It is essential to naturopathy.  The school I went to in fact quite falsely labels naturopathy's required homeopathy (see http://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/graduate/naturo/programreqs) as science (see http://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/healthsciences/).

001.a2.  in "Findings and Recommendations Regarding the Practice of Naturopathic Childbirth Attendance" [vsc 2010-12-28]:

"in order to qualify for licensure, NDs must take and pass Parts I and II of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) [...] Part I of the NPLEX, the Basic Science Examinations [...] students are encouraged to take this portion of the examination as soon as they finish their basic science coursework [...] Part II, the Core Clinical Science Examination [...] beginning with the August 2007 NPLEX Exam administration, the Part II - Core Clinical Science Series will be integrated into a single examination that will include homeopathy."

Note: yes, that's science subset homeopathy.  NPLEX's document "Bulletin of Information and Application for the NPLEX Part II - Clinical Science Examination - February 2011 NPLEX Administration" [vsc 2010-12-28] tells us, similarly:

"the NPLEX Part II - Core Clinical Science Examination [...] covers the topics of diagnosis physical, clinical, and lab, diagnostic imaging, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy [etc.]."

The root "scien" appears at least 63 times on my ocr pdfof their nonsearchable pdf: science, science, science.

001.a3. in "Findings and Recommendations Regarding Minor Office Procedures" [vsc 2010-12-28]:

"an applicant for licensure must have graduated from a naturopathic medical education program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). For accreditation, the schools must meet the following minimum requirements [...] program requirements for its degree or diploma of a minimum of 4,100 total hours in basic and clinical sciences [etc....] Part I of the NPLEX, the Basic Science Examinations [...] Part II, the Core Clinical Science Examination [...] beginning with the August 2007 NPLEX Exam administration, the Part II - Core Clinical Science Series will be integrated into a single examination that will include homeopathy."

Note: so, homeo. within science again.

001.a4. in "Findings and Recommendations Regarding the Practice of Naturopathic Childbirth Attendance" [vsc 2010-12-28]:

"an applicant for licensure must have graduated from a naturopathic medical education program accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). For accreditation, the schools must meet the following minimum requirements [...] program requirements for its degree or diploma of a minimum of 4,100 total hours in basic and clinical sciences [etc....] the art and science of midwifery [...] related behavioral and social sciences [...] in order to qualify for licensure, NDs must take and pass Parts I and II of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) [...] Part I of the NPLEX, the Basic Science Examinations [...] students are encouraged to take this portion of the examination as soon as they finish their basic science coursework [...] Part II, the Core Clinical Science Examination [...] beginning with the August 2007 NPLEX Exam administration, the Part II - Core Clinical Science Series will be integrated into a single examination that will include homeopathy."

Note: AGAIN.

001.b. regarding naturopathy as scientific, overall [and I suggest this Google.com web search, "site:naturopathic.ca.gov "objective observation", without the quotes] the State of California states:

001.b1. in "Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine - A Bureau of the California Department of Consumer Affairs - Findings and Recommendations Regarding the Prescribing and Furnishing Authority of a Naturopathic Doctor" [vsc 2010-12-28]:

"the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) [...has established] a consensus definition of naturopathic medicine for the modern era. The definition, unanimously adopted by the AANP’s House of Delegates in 1989, focused on the guiding naturopathic principles and philosophy rather than specific therapeutic modalities or treatments. The definition reads: 'naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care - an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and determine its practice [like vitalism and supernaturalism, which are science-ejected!]. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Methods used are consistent with these principles."

Note: so now homeo. is within science [and the supernatural], again again again.  Also, we're told in that same document:

"in order to qualify for licensure, NDs must take and pass Parts I and II of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) [...] Part I of the NPLEX, the Basic Science Examinations [...] students are encouraged to take this portion of the examination as soon as they finish their basic science coursework[...] a student must pass Part I of the exam before being allowed to sit for Part II. Part II, the Core Clinical Science Examination [...] beginning with the August 2007 NPLEX Exam administration, the Part II - Core Clinical Science Series will be integrated into a single examination that will include homeopathy."

Note: again again again again..

Additionally, we're also told:

"as taught in naturopathic medical schools, the therapeutic hierarchy is a guideline to applying the modalities of naturopathic medicine [...#2] stimulate the self-healing mechanisms (vis medicatrix naturae) [SHM-VMN, coded vitalism]."

Note: the current California Naturopathic Doctors Association was once the California Association of Naturopathic Physicians.  Digging back to CANP's earliest archived page wherein CANP supposedly defines naturopathy, "What is Naturopathic Medicine?" (c2000-12-15) [vsc 2010-12-28], we're told:

"naturopathic physicians are guided by six principles: first, do No harm; the healing power of nature [HPN, coded vitalism]; find the cause; treat the whole person; preventive medicine; and, doctor as teacher. This set of principles, emphasized throughout a naturopathic physician's training, outlines the philosophy guiding the naturopathic approach to health and healing and forms the foundation of this distinct health care practice [...] the concept of vis medicatrix naturae, 'the healing power of nature' [VMN-HPN, coded vitalism]. This concept has long been at the core of medicine in many cultures around the world and remains one of the central themes of naturopathic philosophy today."

I find it ethically appalling that even in 2000, California AANP-AANMC-FNPLA type naturopathy was not being transparent concerning SHM-VMN-HPN -- their science-ejected vitalistic context.

Even in 2003, CANP postured a "science" basis for 'it all' in "California Senate Casts Historic and Decisive Vote In Favor of Licensing Naturopathic Doctors" (2003-08-10)[vsc 2010-12-28] stating:

"naturopathic medicine [...] focuses on [the] science-based [...] the four years of naturopathic medical education include basic medical sciences."

002. what science says:

002.a. regarding homeopathy, the year 2009, particularly from the UK, the document "Evidence Check 2 - Homeopathy" says it all:

"the Government should stop allowing the funding of homeopathy on the NHS. We conclude that placebos should not be routinely prescribed on the NHS."

002.b. about the 'naturopathic principles' that define naturopathy's context, let my quote from ND Lloyd's "The History of Naturopathic Medicine: A Canadian Perspective" (2009, ISBN 9781552787786) that I am holding in my hands:

"overview of the naturopathic approach: vitalism refers to the view that life is governed by forces beyond the physical [therein, the metaphysical...] vitalism is associated with concepts of spirit or soul and the term vitality refers to the inherent capacity of an organism to live, grow, develop and heal [p.239]."

Note: and then I will quote from another book I'm holding in my hands, Richard Dawkins's "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (2009, ISBN 9780199216819) which states:

"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 suggested above, the ghost of vitalism."

So, basically, science has no need to resort to spirits or souls.  Evidence, naturalistic and physicalistic evidence, doesn't not require such nonparsimonious metaphysical fabrications / figmentations.

So not only is something within naturopathy falsely labeled, naturopathy's entire context is absurd: that the scientific is the science-exterior.

NMD Orona on Naturopathy's Essential Vitalism - Welcome to the Database!

here, I cite from the web page of Arizona NMD Orona, who explains the underlying [science-ejected!] vitalism and supernaturalism that is AANP-AANMC etc. naturopathy's core premise:

001. Orona, S.Z. (NMD NCNM 2001) states in "Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2010-08-30]:

"naturopathic medicine, also known as 'naturopathy' is a school of medical philosophy and practice that seeks to improve health and treat disease chiefly by assisting the body's innate capacity to recover from illness and injury [...there are] five principles of naturopathy: [#1] the healing power of nature, vis medicatrix naturae. The 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 assist this process [...] first do no harm, primum no nocere. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms, which are, in fact, expressions of the life force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complementary to and synergistic with this healing process. The physician’s actions can support or antagonize the actions of vis medicatrix naturae [...] in the state of Arizona, naturopathic medical doctor (NMD) and naturopathic doctor (ND) are used synonymously."

Note: in naturopathyland, that which is science and that which is hugely science-ejected is also synonymous.  Just to also mention, on this same page, we are told of the requisite supernaturalism that is inherent to naturopathy.  E.g., "the physician must also make a commitment to her/his personal and spiritual development [...] health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors [...] causes may occur on many levels, including physical, mental-emotional, and spiritual."  Her alma mater, NCNM -- THE North American naturopathy school in terms of this healing sect's history -- labels all this 'as able to survive scientific scrutiny.'

Naturopathy's absurdity is amazing: sectarian figmentations that are at best politely called 'articles-of-faith' are falsely labeled 'in fact scientific.'  All with '.gov' support.

Ah, but what they don't tell you.

002. I like the language used by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins 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 [which includes 'spirit' in the supernatural / immaterial sense]. 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]."

Note: naturopathy, which claims to be "state-of-the-art," 'thinks' otherwise.

Decoding Naturopathy's Essential Science-Ejected Vitalism -- ISBN 184593413X, 2009:

here, I quote from a 2009 book describing naturopathy in not very transparent terms [see 001., below]; and, I peel away that opacity to reveal 'the essentially naturopathic' [see 002., below]; and, as usual, I issue a warning [see 003., below]:

001. Preedy, V.R. (? ?) and Watson, R.R. (? ?) state in "Botanical Medicine in Clinical Practice" (ISBN 184593413X, 2009):

"naturopathic principles are based on vis medicatrix naturae, the healing power of nature [VMN-HPN], where treatment is used to support the innate healing potential of the individual [IHPI, p.582]."

Note: and that's all you're given. This is what such specifically means to naturopaths:

002. when you look at the naturopathic primary sources regarding VMN-HPN-IHPI, you will find that it represents the science-ejected concept known as vitalism. For the sake of clarity, I will use:

002.a. SCNM's 2003 archived homepage page to represent naturopathy's essential vitalism:

"the healing power of nature [...] first described in western medicine by Hippocrates, the vis medicatrix naturae, is also referred to as chi in Chinese medicine, prana in ayurveda, and vital force in homeopathy. When alive, the vis medicatrix naturae enables humans and other living beings to resist entropy and decay, unlike inanimate objects that are subject to these effects. Creating treatment plans that harness the healing power of nature [...that is] the essence of naturopathic medicine".

002.b. Richard Dawkins's recent editorial comments on vitalism from "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (ISBN 0199216800, 2008) to represent the scientific and particularly modern biological view regarding vitalism:

"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. so, again, a warning regarding descriptions of naturopathy...

there is a sectarian ABSURD underneath that is rarely honestly, competently and accurately expressed.

BINM Naturopathy's Occult Essential Science-ejected Vitalism, & Nonprofessionalism:

here, I decode naturopathy's latinized principles [in part] from the homepage of the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine [BINM], a recently "accredited" Canadian ND-granting school that, par for naturopathy, does not inform us honestly about the central / essential science-ejected, sectarian premise / foundation of naturopathic medicine -- the vitalistic, spiritistic, teleological article of faith known as "the vis", a 'purposeful life spirit bioagency' -- instead such belief kind is falsely postured, par for naturopathy, as scientific fact & misrendered in naturalistic language:

001. BINM states in 'homepage':

"[as part of a jpg] primum non nocere, vis medicatrix naturae [VMN], tolle causam, tolle totum, docere [...] the naturopathic physician will be a leader in a cultural transformation [...] the physician of the future [...] will be a visionary [...adhering to] the belief in the natural healing power [NHP] of the body, mind and spirit [BMS...and will be] immersed in science."

Note: Latin -- per the listed ND principles -- is so sophisticating! And it is a great opportunity to obscure. NDs do this well. The public is told, quite falsely, that naturopathy's "belief" amalgam -- VMN-NHP & BMS -- is all is within "science." Nowhere on this page is VMN actually, explicitly illuminated.

002. lets decode / unobscure that second phrase particularly, VMN, 'from the inside':

002.a. the Textbook of Naturopathic Medicine states, per [pdf version] "The Textbook of Natural Medicine. Chapter 03. A Hierarchy of Healing: The Therapeutic Order, The Unifying Theory of Naturopathic Medicine" (ISBN 0443073007; 2005):

"the uniqueness of naturopathic medicine is the way the naturopath thinks about illness and healing [...this is] based upon the first defining principle: vis medicatrix naturae. It is based on the understanding that disease can be seen as a process, as well as an entity [...] working definition of naturopathic nutrition [...] naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles that underlie and determine its practice. These principles include the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) [...] the vis medicatrix naturae, the vital force, the healing power of nature [VMN=VF=HPN...] the therapeutic order [...directive #2] stimulate the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae): the self-healing processes [...] the underlying recognition of the vis medicatrix naturae, the tendency of the body to be self-healing [...#3] harmonize with your life force [...] many naturopathic modalities can be used to stimulate the overall vital force [...] entire physiologic system [includes] (immune, cardiovascular,detoxification, life force, endocrine, etc.)."

Note: so, VMN = VF = HPN -- an "entity" labeled with the science terms "force" and "power" is responsible for healing.

002.b. the Federation of Naturopathic Physician Licensing Authorities states in "Philosophy" [the 2002 archived page is here]:

"[these ideas are what licensure requires of an ND IN PRACTICE] naturopathic medicine emphasizes the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the inherent healing capacity of the person. Methods of treatments are chosen to work with the patient's vital force, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process [INHP...] six principles of healing form the foundation for naturopathic medical practice: [#1] the healing power of nature. Vis medicatrix naturae. The 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 [LF]. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process [...#3] first do no harm. Primum no nocere. Illness is a purposeful [teleological] process of the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this healing process [THP]. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis medicatrix naturae."

Note: VF = INHP = HPN = VMN = LF = THP.

002.c. BINM in "Natural Selections" (2008-10; vol. 1, iss. 1):

"[per BINM ND student Long, M. (? ?)] we all have an innate ability to heal [IAH],called the 'vital force'. When this force is weak you are susceptible to disease [...& the sidebar states that the] principles of naturopathic medicine [...include #3] vis medicatrix naturae, the healing power of nature."

Note: IAH = VF = VMN = HPN. I think it's safe to assume that Long has been taught this within the last couple years as a student pursuing an ND at BINM. And WOW, calling 'the naturopathic' after the scientific fact of "natural selection" is devious.

003. and lets look at vitalism's nonscientific status via eminent scientist Richard Dawkins in "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (ISBN 0199216800; 2008):

"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 [DNA!; it's not a force or entity!]. 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]."

Note: yet, naturopathy maintains dualism [vitalism, spiritism & kind], per entities that inhabit the physical body -- and claims such articles of faith are "in fact" scientific.

004. the false professional posture of BINM:

004.a. BINM claims, in "BINM Research Department, Research Fellowship, Call for Applicants - February, 2009":

"BINM is committed to educate students in the art and science of naturopathic medicine premised on the ethical foundations of responsibility, integrity, professionalism, respect for persons and benevolence [...] the successful candidate will assist the director of research and work on initiatives aimed to enhance evidence based practice for naturopathic medicine."

Note: me arse! The naturopathic is postured as scientific & caring a frak about evidence & rigor, but the essentially naturopathic is HUGELY actually science-ejected. Naturopathy's incompetence, manipulation, and overall deception therein cannot be claimed to met the ethical standards of the "professional." As the recent paper "How Can Chiropractic Become a Respected Mainstream Profession? The Example of Podiatry":

"one of the problems that we encounter frequently in our interaction with chiropractic educational institutions is the perpetuation of dogma and unfounded claims. Examples include the concept of spinal subluxation as the cause of a variety of internal diseases and the metaphysical, pseudo-religious idea of 'innate intelligence' [a synonym for vital force, in sCAM] flowing through spinal nerves, with spinal subluxations impeding this flow. These concepts are lacking in a scientific foundation and should not be permitted to be taught at our chiropractic institutions as part of the standard curriculum. Much of what is passed off as 'chiropractic philosophy' is simply dogma, or untested (and, in some cases, untestable) theories which have no place in an institution of higher learning [...] the professions, which classically included medicine, law and the ministry, are vocations whose members 'profess' to have knowledge that the laity do not comprehend. Given the asymmetry of knowledge between professionals and the laity, society has granted to the professions a certain degree of autonomous control over themselves [...] this social contract demands that each profession, and each professional, place the well-being of society and the patient, client or parishioner ahead of the profession and professional. Lay persons put their faith in the professional following the dictum credat emptor (let the buyer have faith) rather than caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) [...] when an individual consults a member of any of the medical professions, it is reasonably expected that the advice and treatment that he or she receives is based in science, not metaphysics or pseudoscience [...] patients place their faith in the professional, and trust that they will not be subject to fraud, abuse or quackery. This is the social contract as it applies to chiropractic physicians [as part of 'medical professions'...the naturopathic!!! &] the chiropractic profession[s] has [have] an obligation to actively divorce itself from metaphysical explanations of health and disease as well as to actively regulate itself in refusing to tolerate fraud, abuse and quackery [...] in this way the profession can fulfill its responsibility to the social contract."

Note: ironically, one of the authors is a former University of Bridgeport professor I had, a Connecticut institution which claims that science includes the science-ejected!!!

004.b. yet, BINM states in "2008-2009 Academic Calendar":

"naturopathic medicine is a distinct, primary health care profession [!!!] founded on the time-honored belief in vis medicatrix naturae, 'the healing power of nature' [...] naturopathic physician[s] must [...] be visionaries who know we must return to our roots in nature, to the belief in the natural healing power of the body, mind and spirit [{vitalism, spiritism & kind} p.003...] our mission statement: to provide an outstanding and distinctive education in the art and science of naturopathic medicine [p.004...] our goals: to be faithful [!!!] to the principles of naturopathic medicine and to recognize and validate the contributions of the sciences [...] biomedical science provides a common language for describing the structure and functioning of the human body. The rigor of science has, through inquiry based on the scientific method, produced a valuable representation of occurrences in the body [p.017...] History and Philosophy of Naturopathic Medicine. Several models of health and disease are explored, and the unique philosophy of naturopathic medicine is introduced and traced from its historical origins through modern science-based theory and practice. The vis medicatrix naturae is discussed in depth as the basis for naturopathic concepts of health and disease and principles of practice, and as the unifying principle that distinguishes naturopathic practice from other forms of medicine and underlies naturopathic therapeutic modalities [p.019...] it is recommended that students take the NPLEX part I basic sciences licensing examinations prior to clinic entry but it is not required."

Note: the root "scien" shows up 81 times in this document; "medicatrix" twice; "force" never; "Naturopathic Clinical Arts & Sciences" 25 times; "profession" and kind, 59 times.

Caveat emptor, folks.

Dawkins, Orac - On The Nonscientific Status of Vitalism, 2006 & 2008

here, I reference two sources concerning the nonscientific status of vitalism, a famous UK evolutionary biologist and a famous [:)] US surgeon / scientist & blogger from scienceblogs.com:

001. Richard Dawkins writes:

001.a. 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]."

Note: so, vitalism FINALLY was totally 'not viable' before 1960, in terms of the history of the idea per scientific thought.

001.b. in "The Digital River" from "The Science Book" [2006; ISBN 1841882542]:

"our genetic system [...] there is no spirit-driven life force, no throbbing, heaving, pullulating, protoplasmic, mystic jelly. Life is just bytes and bytes of digital information."

Note: vitalism has NO SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT, yet is claimed as the basis for a supposed medial science at a Connecticut [supposed] University -- right now -- a [supposed] College also centered around a 'supernatural, dualistic' premise, also science unsupported.

002. Orac per Respectful Insolence has written, in "That'll Teach 'Em For Using An Actual Valid Placebo Control" [2008-11-17]:

"I never for a minute considered that the whole rigmarole about 'unblocking' or 'redirecting' the flow of that mystical life force known as qi had anything to do with whether or not acupuncture did or did not have efficacy treating disease or other conditions. That was clearly a holdover from the prescientific medicine times in which most beliefs about the causes of disease involved either the wrath of the gods or vitalism [that is, superstitions!!!], the latter of which is, when you come right down to it, the philosophical basis upon which many 'complementary and alternative' (CAM) modalities are based, especially the so-called 'energy healing' modalities, such as reiki, therapeutic touch, and, of course, acupuncture."

Note: and naturopathy.

003. Are you appalled yet?

Caveat emptor [something I should not have to say about a University program, and about a domain claiming to meet the standards of modern science and medical professionalism].

Vitalism's Profound Nonscientific Status - Richard Dawkins (ISBN 0199216800; 2008):

01. What science says, a specific example:

in the newly published "The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing" (ISBN 0199216800; 2008), Richard Dawkins writes:

"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]."

Note: obviously, vitalism is profoundly science-ejected according to Dr. Dawkins, a leading biologist.

02. What naturopathy says:

02.a. recently, I received by Google news alert the following announcement:

"Huber Natural Health LLC recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the opening of its new permanent location [...our practitioners are] Dr. Luke Huber, N.D. [...and] Dr. Ruth Galbraith, N.D. [...] for more information, visit www.hubernaturalhealth.com."

02.b. so, I followed the practice site link, where we are told by NDs Huber and Galbraith, in a web page titled "Naturopathic Medicine", regarding naturopathy and science, in quite certain language:

"naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other branches of medical science [...] is naturopathic medicine scientific? Yes."

Note: their claim is that naturopathy is within science, is scientific.

02.c. we are also told on this same page by these NDs that there are essential and definitive:

"principles of naturopathic medicine: [#1 being] the healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae) [HPN-VMN...] naturopathic doctors respect and work with the vis medicatrix naturae in diagnosis, treatment and counseling [...] vis medicatrix naturae -- 'the healing power of nature' [...] this concept [...is] one of the central themes of naturopathic philosophy to this day."

Note: nowhere on that page is HPN-VMN explained for what it actually contextually means to NDs - vitalism [a 'purposeful life spirit' bioagency figmentation]. For my aggregation of such 'essential naturopathic vitalism,' visit http://thevitalismofnaturopathy.blogspot.com/ .

03. What science says, collectively:

vitalism has been profoundly science-ejected for several decades. See http://novfsinscience.blogspot.com/ .

04. Note, in sum:

naturopathy falsely labels the profoundly science-ejected as scientific. Also, we are told here, that Dr. Galbraith is the current President of the NHAND.