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Other common
name(s): naturopathy, natural medicine
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Naturopathic medicine is a complete alternative care system
that uses a wide range of approaches such as nutrition, herbs,
manipulation of the body, exercise, stress reduction, and acupuncture.
Parts of naturopathy are sometimes used with conventional medicine as
complementary therapy. Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach
(meaning it is intended to treat the whole person) that tries to enlist
the healing power of the body and nature to fight disease.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or any other disease, since
virtually no studies on naturopathy as a whole have been published. The
individual methods used by naturopathic medicine vary in their
effectiveness. Homeopathy, for instance, may be of little value. Other
naturopathic methods have been shown to help in prevention and symptom
management. Examples include diet for lowering the risk of severe
illnesses such as heart disease and cancer and acupuncture to reduce
pain.
How is it promoted for use?
Supporters claim that naturopathic medicine uses the healing
power of nature to maintain and restore health. Their goal is to create
a healthy environment inside and outside the body. Supporters claim
naturopathic medicine prevents illness because people are taught
healthy diets and lifestyles to avoid disease. Treatment is focused on
the cause of disease, rather than on the symptoms. Naturopathic doctors
may diagnose illness with many of the same methods used in conventional
medicine. They use x-rays, laboratory tests, and physical exams to try
to identify the problem. However, naturopathic treatment does not
generally use drugs, radiation therapy, or major surgery.
There are 3 kinds of practitioners who may offer naturopathic
treatment. Naturopathic doctors (NDs, who may also call themselves
naturopathic physicians) have usually had four years of study in a
school of naturopathy. The second group may call themselves
naturopaths, although some also call themselves naturopathic doctors.
Many naturopaths are self-taught or were apprenticed to another
naturopath. They may focus on one or just a few naturopathic methods.
The third group consists of chiropractors, massage therapists,
dentists, nurses, nutritionists, or doctors who practice under a
professional license but include some naturopathic methods in their
practice. They may have studied or read on their own or taken courses
on naturopathic methods. They use these methods along with their usual
treatments.
Naturopathic medicine is promoted for the treatment of
conditions such as migraine headaches, chronic lower back pain,
enlarged prostate, menopause, AIDS, and cancer. Practitioners claim to
use "natural methods" to strengthen the body's ability to heal itself.
They believe that this type of care causes fewer side effects and costs
less than conventional treatment. However, practitioners often refer
complicated cases or people needing major treatment to conventional
medical professionals.
What does it involve?
Naturopathic medicine uses many different techniques and
methods. Practitioners act mostly as teachers. They decide how to treat
a particular patient based on case history, observation, medical
records, and previous experience. Naturopathic treatment can include
nutritional medicine and fasting; herbs, minerals, and vitamins;
homeopathy; Chinese medicine; manipulation of muscles, the spine, and
other bones; acupuncture; counseling and hypnotherapy; massage;
colonics (enemas); hydrotherapy, heat, and cold applications;
therapeutic exercise; and some minor surgery. For more information
about some of the treatments involved in naturopathic medicine, see our
documents, Acupuncture,
Homeopathy,
Hypnosis,
Colon Therapy,
and the information on herbs, vitamins, and minerals.
Counseling or behavioral medicine is an important part of
naturopathic medicine. Practitioners are usually trained in counseling,
biofeedback, stress reduction, and other means to improve mental health
(see our documents, Biofeedback
and Psychotherapy).
They may also use other unproven techniques such as ozone therapy for
people with cancer and AIDS. These treatments have shown no benefit in
curing cancer or other diseases.
Treatment by naturopathic doctors is not covered by many
insurance policies, including those offered through Medicare and
Tricare. A few states require that treatment by licensed naturopathic
doctors be covered by insurance companies. States that license
naturopathic doctors as primary care providers may provide coverage on
Medicaid programs.
What is the history behind it?
Naturopathic medicine began with Sebastian Kneipp in the
1800s. Kneipp, a German priest, opened a water cure center and
developed herbal treatments. Later, a student of Kneipp's, Benedict
Lust, opened a water cure institute in New York that used Kneipp's
drugless therapies. Lust went on to acquire degrees in osteopathy and
chiropractic, homeopathic, and eclectic medicine. In 1902, Lust
purchased the rights to naturopathic medicine from another Kneipp
student and opened the American Institute of Naturopathy.
By the early 1900s, there were more than twenty schools of
naturopathic medicine. With the advances in conventional medicine after
World War II, however, interest in naturopathy began to decline. It
resurged in the mid-1950s, when the National College of Naturopathic
Medicine was founded in Portland, Oregon. In 1968, the U.S. Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a report stating that the
educational programs for practitioners of naturopathic medicine did not
adequately prepare them to make accurate diagnoses or treatment
decisions. The report also concluded that naturopathic medicine was not
based on widely accepted scientific principles of health, disease, and
health care.
The American Naturopathic Medical Association was founded in
1981 and today reports a membership of approximately 4,000 people
worldwide. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) was
approved by the U.S. Secretary of Education in 1987 as an accrediting
body for full-time schools. It lost its certification in 2001, but
regained it in 2003.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degrees are offered by
four-year graduate-level programs. Naturopathic doctors take some basic
science courses and courses on disease prevention, wellness, clinical
nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine,
psychology, and counseling. Naturopathic doctors do not receive
residency training. As of this writing, there are four accredited ND
programs in the United States, and 13 states license naturopathic
doctors. Some ND degrees are available through nonaccredited
correspondence schools.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
naturopathic medicine is effective for most health problems. Most of
the claims of effectiveness are based on individual cases, medical
records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences. One
clinical study that looked at treatment of ear pain in children tested
the effectiveness of naturopathic ear drops, anesthetic ear drops, and
oral antibiotics. The pain improved over 3 days in all groups, and the
naturopathic drops were slightly more effective than the anesthetic
drops. Antibiotics were not helpful and may have slowed recovery, which
is in agreement with several other studies and consisten with
guidelines of most conventional medical groups, which do not recommend
antibiotics for uncomplicated ear pain.
Naturopathic medicine includes several methods, many of which
have been shown to vary in effectiveness. Available scientific evidence
looking at unproven methods such as homeopathy and colonic irrigation
has not shown them to be helpful for cancer or any other disease. Other
aspects of naturopathic medicine, like proper diet and nutrition, have
been shown to lower the risk of illnesses such as heart disease and
cancer. Another component, acupuncture, may help reduce pain. Some
aspects of naturopathic medicine may be useful when used with
conventional medical treatment.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
These
substances may have not been thoroughly tested to find out how they
interact with medicines, foods, or dietary supplements. Even though
some reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full
studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of
these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions
below should be considered incomplete.
Excessive fasting, dietary restrictions, or use of enemas,
which are sometimes components of naturopathic treatment, may be
dangerous. Naturopathic treatment may involve taking unregulated herbs,
some of which may have harmful effects. In addition, the potential
interactions between herbal preparations and conventional drugs and
other herbs should be considered. Some of these combinations may be
dangerous. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you
are taking.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or
delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Barrett S. A close look at naturopathy. Quackwatch Web site.
Accessed at
http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Naturopathy/naturopathy.html
on May 27, 2008.
Hugh HJ, Dower C, O'Neil EH. Profile of a Profession:
Naturopathic Medicine. San Francisco, CA: Center for the Health
Professions, University of California San Francisco, September 2001.
The Center for Health Professions, University of California Web site.
Accessed at http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/Naturo2.pdf on
June 12, 2008.
National Institutes of Health. Alternative Medicine: Expanding
Medical Horizons: A Report to the National Institutes of Health on
Alternative Medical Systems and Practices in the United States.
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 1994. NIH publication
94-066.
Naturopathic medicine. Bastyr University Web site. Accessed at
http://www.bastyr.edu on June 12, 2008.
Riley, RW. Decision of the secretary in the matter of the
council on naturopathic medical education, US Department of Education,
Washington DC, 2001. Accessed at
http://www.ed-oha.org/secretarycases/2000-06-O.pdf on June 5, 2008.
Sarrell EM, Cohen HA, Kahan E. Naturopathic treatment for ear
pain in children. J Fam
Pract. 2003;52:673-676.
Spencer JW, Jacobs JJ. Complementary/Alternative
Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. St. Louis, MO:
Mosby; 1999.
Whole medical systems: an overview. National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/wholemed.htm on June 20, 2008.
Note:
This
information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions,
precautions, side effects or interactions. It is not intended as
medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for
consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical
situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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