Naturopathy: A Critical Appraisal

[Guest guest]

From Medscape General Medicine

Special Article

Naturopathy: A Critical Appraisal

Posted 12/30/2003

Kimball C. Atwood IV, MD

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

" Naturopathic medicine " is a recent manifestation of the field of

naturopathy, a 19th-century health movement espousing " the healing power

of nature. " " Naturopathic physicians " now claim to be primary care

physicians proficient in the practice of both " conventional " and

" natural " medicine. Their training, however, amounts to a small fraction

of that of medical doctors who practice primary care. An examination of

their literature, moreover, reveals that it is replete with

pseudoscientific, ineffective, unethical, and potentially dangerous

practices. Despite this, naturopaths have achieved legal and political

recognition, including licensure in 13 states and appointments to the US

Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee. This dichotomy can be explained in

part by erroneous representations of naturopathy offered by academic

medical centers and popular medical Web sites.

For the complete article, please see:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/465994_1

Registration at Medscape is fast and free.