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."

CCNM's "Healing Power of Nature" Within Science Claim - An Internal Search:

here, I do an internal text search of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine [CCNM] per  >healing power of nature<:

001. these are the four results [2010-02-27]:

001.a. in "Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (Teaching Clinic)"[vsc 2010-02-27]:

"the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (RSNC) [...] the teaching clinic of CCNM [...] naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care that addresses the root cause of illness or disease. Promoting wellness and prevention, naturopathic medicine harnesses science to unleash nature’s healing power."

001.b. in "Prospective Students"[vsc 2010-02-27]:

"CCNM brings new thinking, new research and new approaches to health care, harnessing science to unleash the healing power of nature."

Note: so, there's that typical science label upon HPN. 

001.c. in "Areas of Study"[vsc 2010-02-27]:

"naturopathic medicine is founded on the principle of healing through the cooperative power of nature [...] the principles underlying the practice of naturopathic medicine include [...#2] recognition and support of the inherent self-healing ability of the individual (the healing power of nature) [...] students will develop the skills to practice in a manner that exemplifies professionalism, strong ethics and a commitment to the principles of naturopathic medicine."

001.d. in "CCNM Celebrates 27th Convocation"[vsc 2010-02-27]:

"'the 94 graduates represent a critical addition to Canada’s healthcare resource,' says President CEO Bob Bernhardt. 'They are skilled in harnessing science to unleash the healing power of nature.  Each graduate has a minimum of seven years of post-secondary education culminating with an intensive and challenging four-year program of basic and clinical sciences and practice.'"

002. what CCNM doesn't reveal is that HPN is indeed science-ejected.

Note: naturopathy, 'harnessing absurdity.'

Wikipedia on Science, Vitalism and Naturopathy - 2009-05-30:

here, I parse the current Wikipedia naturopathy entry in terms of science [see 001.a., below] and vitalism [see 001.b., below];

001. Wikipedia's current naturopathy entry states, regarding:

001.a. science & naturopathy:

"naturopathy (also known as naturopathic medicine or natural medicine) [...its] training differs from that undertaken by MDs in that it includes scientifically disproven modalities, such as homeopathy, often called [a] pseudoscience and quackery [...its] homeopathy is often characterized as pseudoscience [...] naturopathic medical school [...] includes the study of basic medical sciences [...] naturopathy as a field tends towards isolation from general scientific discourse [...] all forms of naturopathic education include concepts incompatible with basic science [...] naturopathic treatments such as homeopathy and iridology are widely considered pseudoscience or quackery [...quoting Atwood] 'an examination of their literature, moreover, reveals that it is replete with pseudoscientific, ineffective, unethical, and potentially dangerous practices' [hear, hear]."

Note: not science.

001.b. vitalism & naturopathy:

001.b1. within the Wikipedia naturopathy entry:

"naturopathy (also known as naturopathic medicine or natural medicine) [...] focuses on natural remedies and the body's vital ability to heal and maintain itself [{'vital' then links to the article parsed in 001.b2.}...] Lust [...] the 'father of U.S. naturopathy' [...] described the body in spiritual and vitalistic terms [...this] naturopathic ideology [...per] trusting to the 'healing power of nature' [...includes] rejection of biomedicine in favor of an intuitive and vitalistic conception of the body and nature [...per 'ND sectarian creed' tenet #2] recognize, respect and promote the self-healing power of nature inherent in each individual human being (vis medicatrix naturae, a form of vitalism) [...naturopathy's] many methods rely on immaterial 'vital energy fields' [...naturopathy contains] concepts irreconcilable with modern medicine, such as vitalism [...] naturopathy is viewed with [scientific] skepticism for its reliance on or association with unproven, disproven, and controversial alternative medical treatments, and for its vitalistic underpinnings."

Note: vitalism is 'essential to the naturopathic'.

001.b2. within the linked Wikipedia vitalism entry:

"Bechtel and Richardson [of the 1998 Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy] state that today vitalism 'is often viewed as unfalsifiable, and therefore a pernicious metaphysical doctrine' [...and quoting Sokal] 'nearly all the pseudoscientific systems to be examined in this essay are based philosophically on vitalism' and [he] added that 'mainstream science has rejected vitalism since at least the 1930s, for a plethora of good reasons that have only become stronger with time' [{hear, hear}...and quoting Williams] 'today, vitalism is one of the ideas that form the basis for many pseudoscientific health systems [e.g., naturopathy] that claim that illnesses are caused by a disturbance or imbalance of the body's vital force'."

002. note: I am not involved in any way with Wikipedia.

Wikipedia's naturopathy entry has improved. It was not long ago that Wikipedia defined the underpinning vitalism of naturopathy as an unqualified "natural life force", as if such a sectarian figmentation / premise / article of faith was prima facie fact. Yet, Wikipedia's naturopathic medical school article makes no mention of the unethical sectarian pseudoscience basis of naturopathy, and codes the vitalism.

Naturopathy's Essential Vitalism Secticity - UBCNM SGA 1999, the ND Oath:

an excerpt from my UBCNM 1998-2002 archives concerning naturopathy's essential science-ejected vitalism premise -- the primary sectic belief of naturopathy's sectic belief system -- as taught and required at AANMC naturopathic colleges and university programs [see 001. below]; and a UBCNM web page that directly equates naturopathy's "life force" with naturopathy's "healing power of nature" [HPN; see 002. below]; and a Canadian ND who demonstrates, through naturopathy's official oath [see 003. below]: a) naturopathy's obligation to HPN / vitalism; b) naturopathy's false label of "science" they -- by oath -- place upon 'the naturopathic principles;' c) the wacko idea that this lie of 'naturopathy's scientific vitalism premise' is 'from a position of integrity and without prejudice, serving humanity' while the a priori, dogmatic belief called vitalism is itself a sectic nonscientific prejudice falsely postured as scientific and of the 'without prejudice' / nonsectarian:

001. the secretary of the UBCNM student government writes in "Naturopathic Student Government Meeting Minutes" {1999-08-24}:

"vitalism club [...] the vitalism club will have meetings to discuss and explore the life force which is a part of us all. Dr. Sensenig, N.D. will be advising";

Note: Sensenig was the founding dean of the college, and the founding president of the AANP.

002. UBCNM states in "Guiding Principle #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 augment this process";

003. the naturopathic oath obligates one to such vitalism, per "Naturopathic Physician's Oath" hosted by CNPBC ND Seth-Smith, P. (ND ?) :

"I dedicate myself to the service of humanity as a practitioner of the art and science [yikes!!!] of naturopathic medicine [...] I will conduct my life and practice of naturopathic medicine with integrity and freedom from prejudice [!!!...] I will honor the principles of naturopathic medicine [...including] to cooperate with the healing powers of nature [life force!!!...] with my whole heart, before these witnesses, as a doctor of naturopathic medicine, I pledge to remain true to this oath";