Evolution of Naturopathy....

History of Naturopathic Medicine

Some see the ancient Greek "Father of Medicine", Hippocrates, as the first advocate of naturopathic medicine. [2]. In Scotland, Dr Thomas Allinson started advocating naturopathy in the 1880s, promoting a natural diet and exercise with avoidance of tobacco and overwork. [3]
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 but "according to the New York Department of State, and the Florida Report to Governor Leroy Collins, it appears that this naturopathic school was never anything but a diploma mill". [4]. 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.

Naturopathy In India
There are also many doctors trained in conventional medicine who have acquired naturopathy degrees so as to integrate the insights gained into their system of practice.[citation needed]
The Indian stream of naturopathy differs from the Western stream in many ways, particularly in their emphasis on strict vegetarianism and yoga.[citation needed]

Naturopathic physicians and traditional naturopaths
There are two groups in North America calling themselves "naturopaths" who have recently been engaged in legal battles. 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.

Naturopathic Physicians
Naturopathic physicians in North America are primary 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 14 states, the District of Columbia, and four Canadian provinces have formal licensing and educational requirements. [5][6] In these jurisdictions, Naturopathic Physicians must pass comprehensive board exams set by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)[7] after having completed academic and clinical training at a college certified by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)[8].

Traditional Naturopaths

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 complimentary 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 U.S. Government or any U.S. State or Territory.

Regulation of naturopathic medicine

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.

Regulation in Australia
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]

Regulation in North America
See also: List of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools in North America
Jurisdictions that currently regulate naturopathic medicine include:
U.S. jurisdictions with full licensure: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Oregon, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Washington.[9]

Utah licensed N.D.s can only prescribe medications listed from the Naturopathic Physician Formulary. [1]

U.S. state with registration for naturopathic physicians: Kansas[10]
U.S. jurisdictions with two-tier licensure: Puerto Rico[citation needed]
U.S. states with legal basis for practice: Minnesota, Rhode Island[citation needed]
U.S. states which specifically prohibit the practice of naturopathy: South Carolina, Tennessee
Canadian provinces with full licensure: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan [11]

Regulation in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, there is no government sponsored regulation of the naturopathy profession. 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 B.Sc Health Science (Naturopathy) course.
Members of this register will either have completed a three or four year full time degree level course or possibly be a healthcare professional (Medical Doctor, Osteopath, Chiropractor, Nurse) who has completed a two year post-graduate Naturopathic Diploma, the N.D. As the naturopathic profession has developed along different lines in the UK, naturopaths do not perform minor surgery or have prescribing rights.

Science and naturopathy
Naturopathic practitioners find it difficult to obtain financing for research due to the lack of prior research in many areas and the fact that whole substances from nature, such as herbs, cannot be patented and are therefore not a profitable investment. Proponents claim that this is slowly changing as naturopathic physicians develop research programs to help build up a foundation for evidence based treatment.

Naturopathic modalities may be controversial (e.g. homeopathy, which several studies have indicated to be ineffective [12]), or have proven effectiveness only for very specific conditions (eg acupuncture, aromatherapy). Some of these modalities and remedies are known to be harmful if not used properly or under the care of a trained practitioner..[13][14][15]

References
^ History of Naturopathy (2007).
^ What is Naturopathy? (1998).
^ Dr Thomas Allinson (2003).
^ Fraud In New Hampshire
^ American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
^ http://www.cand.ca/
^ http://www.nabne.org/
^ http://www.cnme.org/
^ American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
^ Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
^ Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
^ As a fourth study says it's no better than a placebo, is this the end of homeopathy?, The Guardian, August 26, 2005.
^ An Introduction to Naturopathy. NCCAM, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
^ Smith C et al. (2005). "Naturopaths practice behaviour: provision and access to information on complementary and alternative medicines". BMC Complement Altern Med 5: 15. 
^ Lin V et al. (November, 2005). The Practice and Regulatory Requirements of Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine (pdf). Latrobe University, School of Public Health. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.

See also
Allopathic Medicine
Alternative medicine
Essential nutrient
Health freedom movement
Hydrotherapy
Homeopathy
Medicine
Megavitamin therapy
Metamorphic Technique
Multivitamin
Orthomolecular medicine
Osteopathy and osteopathic medicine

External links

Advocacy
Profile of Profession: Naturopathic Practice (312 Kb PDF file) Center for the Health Professions, UCSF
Naturopathic physician associations
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians - AANP
Canadian Association of Naturopathic doctors
British Columbia Naturopathic Association
Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association
North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians
California Naturopathic Doctors Association
Connecticut Naturopathic Association
Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians
American College of Naturopathic Obstetricians
Certifying Organizations
North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
UK General Council and Register of Naturopaths
Traditional naturopaths
Association of Naturopathic Practitioners
Coalition for Natural Health

Criticism
Naturopathy by Robert T. Carroll – The Skeptic's Dictionary
Naturopathy: A Critical Analysis by Barry L. Beyerstein, PhD, and Susan Downie
Licensed to Kill: Some Doctors Are Real Naturals by Chris Wanjek

Current events and News