Florida's AANP Bunch is In On It! Nonscience Coded and Falsely Labeled Science [Naturopathy's MO Continued]

here, I cite from the web pages of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association [FNPA] who claim that naturopathy is science [see 001.a., below] while they code naturopathy's science-ejected essential premise [see 001.b., below]; then, I direct you to a '.gov' page transparently detailing naturopathy's science-ejected contents while simultaneously incorrectly contextualizing same said as science too [see 002., below]: 

001. FNPA states:

001.a1. in "Naturopathic Education" [vsc 2011-03-23]:

"after completion of standard premedical undergraduate coursework, a naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. [...] Bastyr University offers a rigorous, naturopathic medical program emphasizing both the science base of medicine and its clinical application [...] their faculty's commitment to the art and science of healing has made SCNM a leader among the naturopathic medical schools [...] National's N.D. program provides you with a rigorous curriculum that blends thorough scientific foundation with comprehensive training in naturopathic treatments. As a student in the naturopathic physician program at National, you will study the same basic sciences as an M.D."

Note: science, science, science. The "same" science as science sciences by and founds itself by, supposedly.

001.a2. in "FNPA Membership Application 2010" (and here) [vsc 2011-03-23]:

"as per the FNPA by-laws, article III; the mission of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association, Inc., is [...] to advance, promote and protect the science of naturopathic medicine and the naturopathic medical profession."

Note: science again.  And a professions claim.

001.b1. on the same 001.a1. page:

"naturopathic physicians work to identify and eliminate the cause of disease, and are guided by six basic principles: do no harm, utilize the healing power of nature, identify and treat the causes, treat the whole person, focus on preventive medicine, practice doctor-as-teacher."

Note: and that's all you are told.  That is quite undetailed and opaque [where is the mention of the science-ejected vitalistic and spiritistic that is at the ROOT of naturopathy?].  Yes, somehow yet, they claim to teach.  Manipulate, more-like.

001.b2. on the page "Naturopathic Medicine" [vsc 2011-03-23]:

"six fundamental principles of naturopathic medicine: [#1] the healing power of nature: naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent healing process in the person that is ordered and intelligent [hmmmm!]. The body is capable of healing itself. The role of the naturopathic doctor is to remove obstacles to healing and to stimulate this inherent natural tendency of the body [coded vitalism!]; [#2] identify and treat the cause: naturopathic doctors seek to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, not merely eliminate or suppress symptoms; [#3] first do no harm: naturopathic doctors seek to do no harm by using methods and substances that minimize risks of side effects, using the least force needed to diagnose and treat, avoiding the harmful suppression of symptoms and working with the self-healing process; [#4] doctor as teacher: naturopathic doctors recall that the origin of the word 'doctor' is the Latin word, 'to teach.' A fundamental emphasis in naturopathic medicine is patient education; [#5] treat the whole person: naturopathic doctors attempt to take into consideration all the factors that make up patients' lives and affect their health and well-being; [#6] prevention: naturopathic medicine emphasizes the prevention of disease, assesses risk factors, and makes appropriate interventions with patients to prevent illness."

Note: so, you get a little more detail.  But, I can REALLY get you the detail you need to be an informed consumer.

On Youtube, FNPA states in "Naturopathic Medicine in Florida" [vsc 2011-03-23]:

"[from the description] at the FNPA our goal is to educate the public as to the merits of naturopathic medicine and to create and maintain legislation that supports the qualified practice of naturopathic medicine in Florida. For more information, please visit www.fnpa.org [...from the video] vis medicatrix naturae, the healing power of nature [coded vitalism!...] naturopathic doctors are the physicians who are trained to listen [...] this is a doctor who is trained to use [...such things as] homeopathy [...and] acupuncture [(spelled wrong in the video)...] to restore optimal health [...] naturopathic doctors are your comprehensive physicians [...we are] working hard to educate, lobby, and reach out to make a difference."

knowing what I know, that teaching and that educating and that science are NOT being delivered.   Hell, their own video about naturopathy skirts an actual description of VMN-HPN!

002. I direct you to the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine, which states that naturopathy is based on the science-ejected and that such is somehow [in naturopathy-land, where science is a fiction] indeed science.

Note: is there a greater stupid?

002.b. AANP NDs in Florida:

002.b1. the AANP's "Find a Doctor" states:

"Find a Naturopathic Doctor ('Find a Doctor') is compiled and published by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians ('AANP') as a reference source of professional information on individual Naturopathic Doctor ('ND') members in the United States and abroad [...] professional and contact information for AANP member NDs."

Note: and then you type in a location and they list members.

002.b2. including:

Nguyen, K. (ND SCNM);

Thompson, J. (ND NCNM);

Swedrock, K. (ND SCNM);

Kalidas, K. (ND NCNM);

Rubiales, L. (ND NCNM);

Lipham, J. (ND NCNM 2005);

Visconti, M. (ND NCNM).

Note: in the next post, I'll look at whether these NDs individually express naturopathy accurately.

ND Kassam, ND Smith: Science Subset Naturopathy Subset Homeopathy

here, I quote from two Portland, Oregon NDs who claim homeopathy is science, as is naturopathy:

Kassam, N. (ND NCNM), Smith, K. (ND NCNM) state in "FAQS" [vsc 2011-01-15]:

"ND's are trained in medical sciences [...] the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians [...] maintains high standards of education and medical practice and encourages scientific research [...] is naturopathic medicine scientific? Yes [...] homeopathic medicine is a subset of naturopathic science."

Note: science, science, science.  But, if naturopathy and homeopathy are science, then it also means that nonscience is science.  And that's absurd.

Q and A with the AANMC Regarding 'The Science of Naturopathy' on Facebook 2010-06

here, I recount an exchange I had at the AANMC page on Facebook.  I'd asked AANMC directly about naturopathy's science-basis, and AANMC indirectly answered [see 001.a.]. I then present a summary of AANMC's 'homeopathy and naturopathy are scientific' absurd claim, as if from their own perspective [see 001.b. etc., below]:

001.a. the recent exchange [vsc 2010-07-04]:

Q: "I've noticed that on your web site you state naturopaths' 'diagnoses and therapeutics are science based.' I was wondering if AANMC has a preferred definition of 'science'?"

A: "Rob, naturopathic medical schools require their students to study anatomy, biochemistry, human physiology, histology, human pathology, immunology, macro and microbiology, neuroscience and pharmacology in the first two years [science!]. Naturopathic physicians use science and their knowledge of holistic therapies to diagnose and treat patients. You can read more about the academic curriculum for naturopathic students by following the link below. Thank you for your question and interest in naturopathic medicine."

Note: my question wasn't directly answered, yet the impression of the AANMC answer is that naturopathy's science is 'the preponderant science.'  The AANMC linked to the AANMC page "Academic Curriculum", which makes these claims:

"naturopathic medicine students [...] are educated in the same basic sciences as allopathic physicians [...] during their first two years of study, the curriculum focuses on basic and clinical sciences and diagnostics [...] some member schools in the AANMC actually require more hours of basic and clinical science than many top allopathic medical schools [and AANMC links to ALL of their member schools]. Students of naturopathic medicine use the Western medical sciences as a foundation."

So, science, science, science -- as a foundation / base!  A word on AANMC's label "allopathic": it is a bogus label applied bogusly to modern medicine.  It is as proper to call modern medicine allopathy as it is to call modern astronomy astrology.  Wow, naturopathy is so [not] into being ACCURATE!  Now, one naturopathic statement that hugely contradicts all this "science" background / expertise / content is the absurd label that AANMC puts on naturopathy's homeopathy -- the sugar-pill treatment! -- in "AANMC Brochure" [vsc 2010-04-07]:

"the final two years [of ND school] offer comprehensive clinical training in the holistic and nontoxic approaches to disease treatment and prevention that distinguish naturopathic medicine. In their supervised, hands-on experiences with patients, students learn to scientifically apply [...] homeopathic medicine." 

Yet, homeopathy is bunk.  So bunk, in fact, that in the UK it is considered akin to witchcraft.

   

001.b. also at Facebook, AANMC claims in "Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC)'s Photos - Naturopathic vs. Allopathic Science Hours" [vsc 2010-07-04], through one gallery diagram in particular, "An ND's Basic Science Education" [vsc 2010-07-04]:

"[first number is 'allopathic MD', second is 'naturopathic ND'] anatomy & embryology: 13, 19; histology: 6, 5; physiology: 5, 14; biochemistry: 8, 12; pathology: 10, 12; microbiology / immunology: 11, 10.5."

Note: I'd boil this down to a claim by naturopathy that naturopathy students, overall, study more basic science than regular medicine, and therein naturopathy is claiming equal in science if not more science expertise than regular medicine.  Yet, HOW does homeopathy, hugely science-implausible and without merit, get labeled "science" -- even on naturopathy's board exams?  This goes back to my question to AANMC.

So, I believe naturopathy's definition of science could be posed like this: science is like a letterhead on a blank piece of paper to us, which we then fill up with any kind of nonsense we please.

002. so, how absurd is the claim by naturopathy that 'the naturopathic survives scientific scrutiny'?  

to sum it up, this is how absurd naturopathy could be posed as: 'even when science hugely ejects profoundly nonscientific things [by definition!], we here at 'naturopathy central' still falsely label such science.  Take our homeopathy, for instance!  It's science -- to us.'

AANMC has stated quite overtly that naturopathic therapeutics and diagnostics are science based.

But, naturopathy's homeopathy hugely contradicts this claim.