I Get Snailmail - SCNM's 2011 Viewbook Packet [Absurdity Marches On By USPS!]

here, I cite from paper-based Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine admissions material I recently received by United States Postal Service [see 001., below]; then, I muse on the false science-labeling and how to Federally complain about all this nonsense [see 002., below]:

001. in the packet I received, SCNM states that naturopathy is:

001.a. science, science, science [what's new]:

"Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences is a school of medicine and health sciences grounded in naturopathic principles [...] the principles of naturopathic medicine are based upon objective observation of the nature of health and disease, and are continually re-examined in the light of scientific advances [...] the curriculum at SCNM, as in most medical programs, includes a strong foundation in biomedical sciences [...] SCNM, with institutional partners, is advancing the frontiers of medicine by turning scientific insights into treatments [...] the science of healing."

Note: so, there's the overarching claim of "science" basis / foundation and simultaneous "principles" basis / foundation.  "Sciences grounded in naturopathic principles" means, when you know the principles and where they sit in relation to science, "sciences grounded in the science-exterior".  Really.  If the principles were true, they'd actually be science and 'objectively observed'.  But, when you look at the primary principles -- vitalism and supernaturalism -- "in light of scientific advances", you see that the statement "sciences grounded in naturopathic principles" is absurd / irrational.  The details of the principles are in 001.b., below. 

001.b. couched within specific "naturopathic principles":

"what are the naturopathic principles? The six principles that guide the therapeutic methods and modalities of naturopathic medicine [...#2] the healing power of nature - vis medicatrix naturae [HPN-VMN...] vision: a world that embraces the healing power of nature."

Note: and that's all your are told about HPN-VMN.  The inherent supernaturalism within their principles isn't mentioned either.  SCNM does it here, though. So, in sum, SCNM has stated that naturopathy and its principles survive scientific scrutiny, and one of those principles is HPN-VMN.

002. absurdities galore:

being quite familiar with the coded / opaque / brief language naturopathy often uses as place-filler for their actual beliefs, I'm quite sure that naturopathy's principles / beliefs are not science-surviveable because, in fact, they are science-ejected.

HPN-VMN is the science-ejected idea known as vitalism.  You can find it stated transparently at SCNM, just not within this admissions packet.  I'll often summarize it as a belief in a 'purposeful life spirit' responsible for physiology and health / disease.

Also, SCNM claims in this packet that homeopathy is "deeply therapeutic."  We know, scientifically speaking, that homeopath is quite bunk.

So, where is nonscience falsely labeled science GALORE: naturopathy.

Note: I received these misrepresentations through the United States Postal Service, who I'm going to contact [again].

First, I've go to get my head around the specifics of mail fraud.

The USPS has a mail fraud complaint web page.  The Federal Trade Commission also has a complaint web-page.

ND Jacobs @ PCTV - 'The Body Responds to Homeopathy Well'

here, a Utah naturopath on Youtube promotes homeopathy's efficacy, while in the land of scientific fact, homeopathy is preponderantly considered an implausible therapy:

001. Jacobs, T. (ND NCNM) states in "Dr. Thad Jacobs - Summit Integrative Medicine on PCTV's MMS" [vsc 2010-12-03]:

"[00. 02.22] we're biological beings, we respond to a biological stimulation [...00.02.42] homeopathy, acupuncture, these types of things are what the body responds to well because they are natural stimuli for the body [...and speaks of] chelation therapy [...and] 'I'm happy to be a resource [and we're given his web and telephone contact]."

Note: ah, that naturopathic fantasy known as homeopathy, wherein empty pills and liquids are delusionally posed as 'profoundly effective'.

We're also intelligent beings, and we won't be fooled.

McGill U.'s Call to Arms Against Pseudoscience - Montreal Gazette 2010-10-16

Joe Schwarcz, "director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society" writes in "Confronting the Plague of Pseudoscience" in the Montreal Gazette (2010-10-18):

"scientifically unsupported claims about therapeutic interventions that are not science-based offer false hope. Worse, they may steer patients away from proven conventional treatments [...] pseudoscience is enjoying a golden age [...it] can masquerade as science and wreak intellectual and physical havoc [...though] a definition is hard to come by because pseudoscience takes on so many forms [...it is a] plague [...an] intellectual muddling [...and] most scientists [...] would agree that when they see it, they know it. But this is not necessarily the case for people not well versed in science [...] in essence, pseudoscience encompasses any belief, process or claim that pretends to have a scientific basis but actually has none [(yes!)...] real science accumulates facts and formulates testable theories to gain an understanding of the physical world, pseudoscience relies on anecdotes, ideology and cherry-picked data to support preconceived notions [...and] is often mired in dogma [...] homeopathy would be a typical example of a pseudoscience [...per] no scientific basis [...also] distance healing [...] when scientists start raising eyebrows at such mindless twaddle, the pseudoscience champions unleash their usual attacks, claiming that scientists are closed-minded [...though] as Carl Sagan cleverly said, they may have laughed at Columbus and the Wright brothers, but they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. Scientists are quite prepared to stop laughing when evidence is provided [...] where is the comparable evidence for astrology, iridology [a pseudodiagnostic], crystal healing, quantum healing, magnetic healing, 'chi' channels [vitalism], telepathy, or creationism? Where is the proof that John Kanzius's radio waves can cure cancer or that [naturopath] Hulda Clark's 'zapper' can zap it away? There isn't any, and Hulda is not going to produce any, given she passed away from cancer last year [(oh snap!)...] it is time to stem the rising tide of pseudoscience [...] the Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium is one of McGill's premier annual events and this year focuses on pseudoscience [...it will have] four world-renowned experts on pseudoscience [...] Dr. Ben Goldacre, medical columnist for The Guardian in England and author of Bad Science; Dr. David Gorski [...] a managing editor for the famed 'Science-Based Medicine' blog; Dr. Michael Shermer, Scientific American columnist and founder of Skeptic magazine; and the incomparable and indefatigable James Randi, the world's leading investigator of pseudo-scientific and paranormal claims."

Note: naturopathy, of course, is a world renown pseudoscience. At the Naturowatch site, Dr. Barrett's article is famous for calling the average naturopath a "muddlehead."

Homeopathy As "Unscientific, Absurd" - The Daily Mail 2010-01-22

the UK's Daily Mail reports in "Skeptics Plan 'Mass Overdose' in Protest Against Homeopathic Medicine" (2010-01-22):

"hundreds of homeopathy skeptics are planning a 'mass overdose' of [these] pills in protest at the continued marketing of these 'useless' medicines by high street chemist Boots [...] to prove that the medicines are ineffective [...] 10.23 has accused Boots of profiting from what is an 'unscientific and absurd pseudoscience' [...] the remedies have literally nothing in them [...] in October [...] Boots' professional standards director Paul Bennett told a committee of MPs [...of the] House of Commons Science and Technology Committee [...] that there was no medical evidence that homeopathic pills and potions work [...per] 'I have no evidence to suggest that they are efficacious'".

Note: meanwhile, naturopathy claims that this "unscientific" junk and "absurd pseudoscience" is a clinical science.

2010 UK Anti-Homeopathy Campaign:

Consumer Health Digest [2009-12-24 (#09-52)] has announced / relays this message:

"skeptics in the United Kingdom have announced their intention to raise public awareness that homeopathy is quackery. The campaign will launch early in 2010. People who wish to join or monitor the campaign can register on http://www.1023.org.uk/ ."

Note: homeopathy is, of course, part of naturopathy's absurdity (e.g.: here, here).

002. at that link, we're told:

"homeopathy is a pre-scientific and absurd pseudoscience. Yet it persists today as an accepted complementary medicine, largely because people don't know what it is. The 10:23 Campaign aims to show the public what homeopathy is and explain how we know it doesn't work. It will launch in early 2010.

Note: the campaign,  '10 to the 23rd', has the motto "Homeopathy: There's Nothing In It".  The name of the campaign seems to be an abbreviation for 'Avogadro's Number' which is often quantified as 6.022 x

10²³.