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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 along with conventional medicine as complementary therapy. Naturopathic Medicine is a holistic approach (intended to treat the whole person) that tries to enlist the healing power of the body and nature to fight disease
(see Holistic Medicine).
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
(see Homeopathy). 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, lab tests, and physical exams to try and find out what the problem is. However, naturopathic treatment does not generally use drugs, radiation therapy, or major surgery.
There are three 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 of the 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 they 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, nutrition, 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; natural childbirth; 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 Acupuncture,
Homeopathy,
Hypnosis,
Colon Therapy,
and 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 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 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 which 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 20 schools of naturopathic medicine. With the advances in conventional medicine after World War II, 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 US 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 reports having approximately 4,000 members worldwide. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) was approved by the US 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 non-accredited correspondence schools.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims of that naturopathic medicine is effective. Most of the claims of effectiveness are based on individual cases, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences. One recent study that looked at treatment of ear pain in children tested a naturopathic ear drop against other treatments and no treatment. The pain improved over three days in all groups, even those who got no treatment. Those who got antibiotics tended to do worse, and those who got the naturopathic drops tended to do better.
Naturopathic medicine uses several methods that have been shown to vary in effectiveness. Available scientific evidence looking at unproven methods such as homeopathy and colonic irrigation have 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 along with conventional medical treatment.
Are there any possible problems or complications?
Excessive fasting, dietary restrictions, or use of enemas 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, 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 ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
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.
Barrett S. A close look at naturopathy. Quackwatch Web site. Available at: http://www.quackwatch.com. Accessed 3/23/07.
Bastyr University: Naturopathic Medicine. Available online at: www.bastyr.edu. Accessed 3/23/07.
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, 2001. Accessible on the Web at http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/Naturo2.pdf. Accessed 3/23/07.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Whole Medical Systems: An Overview (Backgrounder). Available online at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/backgrounds/wholemed.htm. Accessed 3/23/07.
Riley, RW. Decision of the Secretary in the Matter of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, US Department of Education, Washington DC, 2001. Available online at: http://www.ed-oha.org/secretarycases/2000-06-O.pdf. Accessed 3/23/07.
Sarrell EM, Cohen HA, Kahan E. Naturopathic treatment for ear pain in children. J Fam Pract. 2003 Sep;52(9):673, 676.
Spencer JW, Jacobs JJ. Complementary/Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Inc; 1999.
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.
Revised: 03/26/2007
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