|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Naturopathic Medicine |
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2006) |
 |
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. (December 2007) Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. |
| Alternative medical systems - |
|---|
|
| NCCAM classifications |
| See also |
| Naturopathy | |
| This article is part of the branches of CAM series. | |
| CAM Classifications | |
| NCCAM: | Alternative Medical System |
| Modality: | Professionalized |
| Knowledge: | Doctorate |
| Culture: | |
Naturopathic medicine (also known as naturopathy or natural medicine) is a complementary and alternative medicine which emphasizes the body's innate ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic practice includes many different modalities and practitioners emphasize a holistic approach to patient care, and may recommend patients use conventional medicine alongside their treatments. Naturopathy has its origins in the Nature Cure movement of Europe[1]. It is practiced in many countries but subject to different standards of regulation and levels of acceptance. Naturopaths who are trained in the United States are indicated by the acronyms ND or NMD in 15 US states and four Canadian provinces. Naturopaths elsewhere may be indicated by BSc, BHSc, BNat, or Dip.Nat, or have no formal training at all, and recognition of qualifications varies.[2]
Naturopaths prefer to use natural remedies such as herbs and foods rather than surgery or synthetic drugs. If the patient does not respond to these treatments, they are generally referred to physicians who utilize standard medical care to treat the disease or condition.
Contents |
Some see the ancient Greek "Father of Medicine", Hippocrates, as the first advocate of naturopathic medicine.[3] In Scotland, Dr Thomas Allinson started advocating naturopathy in the 1880s, promoting a natural diet and exercise with avoidance of tobacco and overwork.[4]
In the USA, the term naturopathy was coined before 1900 by John Scheel, and used by Benedict Lust. Lust had been schooled in hydrotherapy and other natural health practices in Germany by Father Sebastian Kneipp, who sent Lust to the United States to bring them Kneipp's methods. In 1905, Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York, the first naturopathic college in the United States. Lust took great strides in promoting the profession, culminating in passage of licensing laws in several states prior to 1935, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington and the founding of several naturopathic colleges.
Naturopathic medicine went into decline, along with most other natural health professions, after the 1930s, with the discovery of penicillin and advent of synthetic drugs such as antibiotics and corticosteroids. In the post-war era, Lust's death, conflict between various schools of natural medicine (homeopathy, eclectics, physio-medicalism, herbalism, naturopathy, etc.), and the rise of medical technology were all contributing factors. In 1910, when the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching published the Flexner Report which criticized many aspects of medical education in various institutions (natural and conventional), it was mostly seen as an attack on low-quality natural medicine education. It caused many such programs to shut down and contributed to the popularity of conventional medicine.
Naturopathic medicine never completely ceased to exist, however, as there were always a few states in which licensing laws existed—though at one point there were virtually no schools. One of the most visible steps towards the profession's modern renewal was the opening in 1956 of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. This was the first of the modern naturopathic medical schools offering four-year naturopathic medical training with the intention of integrating science with naturopathic principles and practice. Today there are six accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America.
Naturopathic doctors use a wide variety of treatment modalities. The core set of interventions defined by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and taught at all seven accredited schools in North America includes:[5]
In addition to the above core curriculum, individual schools and practitioners often tailor their curriculum and practice to meet regional community needs and standards. Likewise, schools located in jurisdictions that permit additional modalities such as venipuncture and intravenous therapy have added these courses to the core curriculum.
There are two groups in North America calling themselves "naturopaths". The term when originally coined by John Scheel, and popularized by Dr. Benedict Lust was to apply to those receiving an education in the basic medical sciences with an emphasis on natural therapies. This usage best describes modern day naturopathic physicians. In the absence of universal regulation of naturopathy, another group of practitioners (the so-called 'traditional naturopaths') has emerged. Additionally, a variety of health care professionals may incorporate naturopathic principles and modalities into their practice.
Naturopathic doctors in North America are naturoathic care providers trained in conventional medical sciences, diagnosis and treatment, and are experts in natural therapeutics. Licensing and training requirements vary from state to state, but at least 15 states, the District of Columbia, and four Canadian provinces have formal licensing and educational requirements. [6][7] In these jurisdictions, Naturopathic Physicians must pass comprehensive board exams set by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)[8] after having completed academic and clinical training at a college certified by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)[9]. The letters ND usually designate a naturopathic doctor in jurisdictions where such a title is protected by law, but other qualifications exist.citation needed
Traditional naturopaths are guided by the same naturopathic philosophies and principles as board-licensed naturopathic physicians and often prescribe similar treatments but do so as alternative or complementary practitioners rather than as primary care providers. Some may voluntarily join a professional organization, but these organizations do not accredit educational programs in any meaningful way or license practitioners per se. The training programs for traditional naturopaths can vary greatly, are less rigorous and do not provide the same basic and clinical science education as naturopathic medical schools do. The professional organizations formed by traditional naturopaths are not recognized by the government of the USA or any US State or Territory.
According to a 1998 taskforce report, manyweasel words conventionally trained physicians are choosing to add naturopathic modalities to their practice,[10]need quote and states such as Texas have begun to establish practice guidelines for MDs who integrate alternative and complementary medicine into their practice. [11] Continuing education in naturopathic modalities for health care professionals varies greatly but includes offerings for practitioners: physicians, chiropractors, acupuncturists, dentists, researchers, veterinarians, physician’s assistants, and nurses[12]. These professionals usually retain their original designation but may use terms such as 'holistic', 'natural', or 'integrative' to describe their practice.
 |
The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
In some jurisdictions the practice of naturopathic medicine is unregulated and so the titles like "naturopath", "naturopathic doctor", and "doctor of natural medicine" are not protected by law. This may lead to difficulty in ensuring that a practitioner is trained to a particular standard or has adequate liability insurance.
There is currently no state licensure in Australia, rather the industry is self-regulated. There is no protection of title, meaning that technically anyone can practise as a naturopath. The only way to obtain insurance for professional indemnity or public liability is by joining a professional association, which can only be achieved having completed an accredited course and gaining professional certification. Currently the only registered modalities of natural medicine in Australia are those relating to Chinese medicine, and only in the state of Victoria.citation needed
Jurisdictions that currently regulate naturopathic medicine include:
In the United Kingdom, as there is no government sponsored regulation of the naturopathy profession, naturopaths are unregulated. The largest registering body, The General Council & Register of Naturopaths, recognises three courses in the UK, two being taught at osteopathic schools: the British College of Osteopathic Medicine; The College of Osteopaths Educational Trust; and one at the University of Westminster School of Integrated Health under the auspices of the BSc Health Science (Naturopathy) course.citation needed These organisations are not recognized by the UK regulatory frameworks.
Members of this register will either have completed a three or four year full time course or possibly be a healthcare professional who has completed a two year post-graduate Naturopathic Diploma (ND).
Alternatively, there are the Association of Naturopathic Practitioners and The British Naturopathic Association whose members can practice and get indemnity insurance.citation needed
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |