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Related Experiment Videos

Naturopathy: a critical appraisal.

Kimball C Atwood1

  • 1Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts, USA. katwood@partners.org

Medgenmed : Medscape General Medicine
|January 28, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Naturopathic medicine, a modern practice, lacks the rigorous training of conventional primary care physicians. Its literature contains pseudoscientific and dangerous information, despite legal recognition.

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Area of Science:

  • Integrative Medicine
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
  • Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

  • Naturopathy emerged as a 19th-century health movement emphasizing "the healing power of nature."
  • Naturopathic physicians now claim to be primary care physicians, integrating conventional and natural medicine.
  • Concerns exist regarding the scope and depth of naturopathic training compared to medical doctors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the claims and practices of naturopathic medicine.
  • To assess the scientific validity and safety of information presented in naturopathic literature.
  • To understand the discrepancy between the scientific assessment and the legal/political recognition of naturopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of naturopathic texts and publications.
  • Comparison of naturopathic physician training with that of conventional primary care physicians.
  • Analysis of the representation of naturopathy in academic and popular medical resources.

Main Results:

  • Naturopathic literature contains pseudoscientific, ineffective, unethical, and potentially dangerous practices.
  • Naturopathic physician training is significantly less extensive than that of medical doctors in primary care.
  • Naturopaths have obtained licensure in 13 states and hold positions on advisory committees, despite scientific concerns.

Conclusions:

  • Naturopathic medicine presents a dichotomy between its purported scope and its scientific underpinnings.
  • Erroneous representations by academic medical centers and popular websites contribute to the acceptance of naturopathy.
  • Further scrutiny is needed to address the pseudoscientific elements within naturopathic medicine and its public perception.

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