Naturopathy

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Naturopathy (also known as naturopathic medicine or natural medicine) is an eclectic alternative medical system that focuses on natural remedies and the body's vital ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach and minimal use of surgery and drugs. Naturopathy comprises many different treatment modalities of varying degrees of acceptance by the medical community; diet and lifestyle advice may be substantially similar to that offered by non-naturopaths, and acupuncture may help reduce pain in some cases, but homeopathy is often characterized as pseudoscience or quackery.

Naturopathy has its origins in the Nature Cure movement of Europe.[1][2] The term was coined in 1895 by John Scheel and popularized by Benedict Lust,[3] the "father of U.S. naturopathy".[4]

Naturopathy is practiced in many countries, especially the United States and Canada, and is subject to different standards of regulation and levels of acceptance. The level of medical education among naturopaths also varies, though no naturopathic training program reaches the same level of training as an MD or DO.[5] In the United States and Canada, the designation of Naturopathic Doctor (ND) may be awarded after completion of a four year program of study at an accredited Naturopathic medical school that includes the study of basic medical sciences as well as natural remedies and medical care.[6][7] The scope of practice varies widely between jurisdictions, and naturopaths in unregulated jurisdictions may use the Naturopathic Doctor designation or other titles regardless of level of education.[8]

Contents

[edit] History

Some see the ancient Greek "Father of Medicine", Hippocrates, as the first advocate of naturopathic medicine, before the term existed.[9][10] The modern practice of naturopathy has its roots in the Nature Cure movement of Europe.[1][2] In Scotland, Thomas Allinson started advocating his "Hygienic Medicine" in the 1880s, promoting a natural diet and exercise with avoidance of tobacco and overwork.[11][12] The term sanipractor has sometimes been used to refer to naturopaths, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.[4]

The term naturopathy was coined in 1895 by John Scheel,[3] and purchased by Benedict Lust, the "father of U.S. naturopathy".[4] Lust had been schooled in hydrotherapy and other natural health practices in Germany by Father Sebastian Kneipp; Kneipp sent Lust to the United States to spread his drugless methods.[13] Lust defined naturopathy as a broad discipline rather than a particular method, and included such techniques as hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy, as well as giving up overeating, tea, coffee, and alcohol.[14] He described the body in spiritual and vitalistic terms with "absolute reliance upon the cosmic forces of man's nature."[15]

In 1901, Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York; in 1902 he founded the Naturopathic Society of America (reorganized in 1919 as the American Naturopathic Association, ANA).[4][16][16] Naturopaths became licensed under naturopathic or drugless practitioner laws in 25 states in the first three decades of the twentieth century.[4] Naturopathy was adopted by many chiropractors, and several schools offered both Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) and Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degrees.[4] Estimates of the number of naturopathic schools active in the United States during this period vary from about one to two dozen.[3][4][17]

After a period of rapid growth, naturopathy went into decline for several decades after the 1930s. In 1910, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching published the Flexner Report, which criticized many aspects of medical education, especially quality and lack of scientific rigour. The advent of penicillin and other "miracle drugs" and the consequent popularity of modern medicine also contributed to naturopathy's decline. Following Lust's death in 1945, the ANA split into six distinct organizations. In the 1940s and 1950s, a broadening in scope of practice laws led many chiropractic schools to drop their N.D. degrees, though many chiropractors continued to practice naturopathy. From 1940 to 1963, the American Medical Association campaigned against heterodox medical systems. By 1958, practice of naturopathy was licensed in only five states.[4] In 1968, the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a report on naturopathy concluding that naturopathy was not grounded in medical science and that naturopathic education was inadequate to prepare graduates to make appropriate diagnosis and provide treatment; the report recommends against expanding Medicare coverage to include naturopathic treatments.[17][18] In 1977, an Australian committee of inquiry reached similar conclusions; it did not recommend licensure for naturopaths.[19]

Naturopathy never completely ceased to exist, and beginning in the 1970s interest waxed in the United States and Canada.[14]

Today, there are six accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America. In 1956, Charles Stone, Frank Spaulding, and W. Martin Bleything established the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon in response to plans by the Western States Chiropractic College to drop its N.D. program. In 1978, Sheila Quinn, Joseph Pizzorno, William Mitchell, and Les Griffith established John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine (now Bastyr University) in Seattle, Washington. The rise of the holistic health movement in the early 1970s contributed to this revival.[4]

[edit] Principles

Naturopathic ideology focuses on naturally-occurring and minimally-invasive methods, trusting to the "healing power of nature."[17] Such treatments as "synthetic" drugs, radiation, and major surgery are avoided, and rejection of biomedicine and modern science in favor of an intuitive and vitalistic conception of the body and nature is common.[16][17] Prevention through stress reduction and a healthy diet and lifestyle is emphasized. The philosophy of naturopathic practice is self-described by six core values.[20] Multiple versions exist in the form of the naturopathic doctor's oath,[21] various mission statements published by schools[22] or professional associations, and ethical conduct guidelines published by regulatory bodies:[23]

  1. First, do no harm; provide the most effective health care available with the least risk to patients at all times (Primum Non Nocere).
  2. Recognize, respect and promote the self-healing power of nature inherent in each individual human being. (Vis medicatrix naturae, a form of vitalism[24]).
  3. Identify and remove the causes of illness, rather than eliminate or suppress symptoms (Tolle Causum).
  4. Educate, inspire rational hope and encourage self-responsibility for health (Doctor as Teacher).
  5. Treat each person by considering all individual health factors and influences. (Treat the Whole Person).
  6. Emphasize the condition of health to promote well-being and to prevent diseases for the individual, each community and our world. (Health Promotion, the Best Prevention)

[edit] Practice

The focus of Naturopathy is on its philosophy of natural self-healing rather than specific methods, and practitioners use a wide variety of treatment modalities.[14][25] Many methods rely on immaterial "vital energy fields," and naturopathy as a field tends towards isolation from general scientific discourse.[10][26][27] The effectiveness of naturopathy as a whole system has not been systematically evaluated, and efficacy of individual methods used varies.[17][28]

A consultation typically begins with a lengthy patient interview focusing on lifestyle, medical history, emotional tone, and physical features, as well as physical examination.[14] Naturopaths do not necessarily recommend vaccines and antibiotics, and may provide inappropriate alternative remedies even in cases where evidence-based medicine has been shown effective. All forms of naturopathic education include concepts incompatible with basic science, and do not necessarily prepare a practitioner to make appropriate diagnosis or referrals.[28][29][30]

[edit] Methods

The particular modalities utilized by an individual naturopath varies with training and scope of practice. The demonstrated efficacy and scientific rationale also varies. These include:

[edit] Practitioners

Naturopathic care is available from three broad categories: practitioners with a four year degree or similar formal training; practitioners who are self-taught or have been apprenticed to another naturopath; and practitioners who operate under another professional license while also offering some naturopathic methods.[17] In unregulated jurisdictions, the designation Doctor of Naturopathy and similar terms are not protected and may be used by any practitioner regardless of qualifications.

[edit] Naturopathic doctors

Main article: Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic doctor (ND) or a similar term is a protected designation with some form of licensing and training requirements in at least 15 US states, the District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces.[34][35] In these jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors must pass board exams set by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)[36] after completing academic and clinical training at a college certified by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).[37] Many naturopaths present themselves as primary care providers.[5][6][14] ND training includes the use of basic medical diagnostic tests and procedures such as medical imaging, minor surgery, and blood tests. The CNME also provides for the inclusion of optional modalities including minor surgery, natural childbirth and intravenous therapy, though they are not generally licensed to perform these functions; these modalities require additional training and may not be within the scope of practice in all jurisdictions. This training differs from that undertaken by MDs in that it includes scientifically disproven modalities, such as homeopathy, often called pseduoscience and quackery,[14][17][32] and concepts irreconcilable with modern science and medicine, such as vitalism.[5][6][13][14][32][38] NDs do not engage in residency training.[17] In 2005, the Massachusetts Medical Society opposed licensure in the commonwealth on these grounds.[30]

The core set of interventions defined by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education and taught at all six accredited schools in North America includes:[39] acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy, nature cure (a range of therapies based upon exposure to natural elements), nutrition, physical medicine, and psychological counseling.

[edit] Traditional naturopaths

Traditional naturopaths are guided by the same naturopathic philosophies and principles as board-licensed naturopathic doctors and often prescribe similar treatments. Traditional naturopaths however, are not primary care providers, whereas graduates of CNME accredited naturopathic medicine schools are classified as both alternative or complementary practitioners as well as primary care providers. Traditional naturopaths may voluntarily join a professional organization, but these organizations do not accredit educational programs in any meaningful way or license practitioners, per se.[citation needed] The training programs for traditional naturopaths can vary greatly. Compared to naturopathic medical schools, traditional naturopaths' training programs are less rigorous and do not provide the same basic and clinical science education.[citation needed] The professional organizations formed by traditional naturopaths are not recognized by the government of the USA or any US State or Territory.

[edit] Other health care professionals

According to a 1998 taskforce report, some physicians are choosing to add naturopathic modalities to their practice,[40] and states such as Texas have begun to establish practice guidelines for MDs who integrate alternative and complementary medicine into their practice.[41] Continuing education in naturopathic modalities for health care professionals varies greatly but includes offerings for many professions, including physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, dentists, researchers, veterinarians, physician assistants, and nurses.[42] These professionals usually retain their original designation but may use terms such as 'holistic', 'natural', or 'integrative' to describe their practice.

[edit] Regulation

 The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page.
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (June 2009)

[edit] Australia

There is 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.[43]

In 1977 a committee reviewed all colleges of naturopathy in Australia and found that, although the syllabuses of many colleges were reasonable in their coverage of basic biomedical sciences on paper, the actual instruction bore little relationship to the documented course. In no case was any practical work of any consequence available. The lectures which were attended by the Committee varied from the dictation of textbook material to a slow, but reasonably methodical, exposition of the terminology of medical sciences, at a level of dictionary definitions, without the benefit of depth or the understanding of mechanisms or the broader significance of the concepts. The Committee did not see any significant teaching of the various therapeutic approaches favoured by naturopaths. Persons reported to be particularly interested in homoeopathy, Bach's floral remedies or mineral salts were interviewed, but no systematic courses in the choice and use of these therapies were seen in the various colleges. The Committee was left with the impression that the choice of therapeutic regime was based on the general whim of the naturopath and since the suggested applications in the various textbooks and dispensations overlap to an enormous extent no specific indications are or can be taught.[19]

[edit] India

In India there is a 5 1/2 year degree course offering a Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences (BNYS) degree. There are a total of 11 colleges in India, of which 4 colleges are in the state of Tamilnadu.[citation needed]

Naturopathy and Yoga, as an Indian system of medicine, falls under the Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.[citation needed]

"Central Council for Research in Naturopathy & Yoga": The Government of India after having recognized the need for systematic Research and Development of Yoga & Naturopathy in the country, established the “Central Council for Research in Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy” in 1969 as an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This organization, first of its kind was established in India by the Central Government to conduct Scientific Research in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Yoga, existed upto 1978. During this period, the development of Naturopathy was looked after by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare directly. Later, in March 1978, this composite Council was dissolved to pave way for the formation of four independent Research Councils, one each for Ayurveda and Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy and Yoga & Naturopathy.[citation needed]

"National Institute of Naturopathy" - Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India: The National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune came into existence on 22 December 1986. It encourages facilities for standardization and propagation of the existing knowledge and its application through research in Naturopathy throughout India. This Institute has a “Governing Body” headed by Union Minister for Health as its President.[citation needed]

[edit] North America

In five Canadian provinces, fifteen US states and the District of Columbia, naturopathic doctors who are trained at an accredited school of naturopathic medicine in North America, are entitled to use the designation ND or NMD. Elsewhere, the designations "naturopath", "naturopathic doctor", and "doctor of natural medicine" are generally unprotected.[8]

In North America, each jurisdiction that regulates naturopathy defines a local scope of practice for naturopathic doctors that can vary considerably. Some regions permit minor surgery, access to prescription drugs, spinal manipulations, obstetrics and gynecology and other regions exclude these from the naturopathic scope of practice.[44]

[edit] Canada

Canadian provinces which license naturopathic doctors: British Columbia, Manitoba,Ontario, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.[45] British Columbia has regulated naturopathic medicine since 1936 and is the only Canadian province that allows certified ND's to prescribe pharmaceuticals and perform minor surgeries.[46]

[edit] United States

[edit] United Kingdom

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]

[edit] Criticism

This section requires expansion.

Naturopathy is viewed with skepticism for its reliance on or association with unproven, disproven, and controversial alternative medical treatments, and for its vitalistic underpinnings.[38] As with any alternative care, there is a risk of misdiagnosis; this risk may be lower depending on level of training.[14][32] There is also a risk that ailments that cannot be diagnosed by naturopaths will go untreated while a patient attempts treatment programs designed by their naturopath. Certain naturopathic treatments, such as homeopathy and iridology, are widely considered pseudoscience or quackery.[51][52][53] Natural methods and chemicals are not necessarily safer or more effective than artificial or synthetic ones; any treatment capable of eliciting an effect may also have deleterious side effects.[13][17][54][55]

Naturopathic doctors are not mandated to undergo residency between graduation and commencing practice,[17] except in the state of Utah.[56]

Stephen Barrett (of Quackwatch and the National Council Against Health Fraud) has stated that the philosophy of naturopathy is "simplistic and that its practices are riddled with quackery."[13]

K. C. Atwood writes, in the journal Medscape General Medicine, "'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."[5]

According to Arnold S. Relman, the Textbook of Natural Medicine is inadequate as a teaching tool, as it omits to mention or treat in detail many common ailments, improperly emphasizes treatments "not likely to be effective" over those that are, and promotes unproven herbal remedies at the expense of pharmaceuticals. He concludes that "the risks to many sick patients seeking care from the average naturopathic practitioner would far outweigh any possible benefits."[57]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b P S Brown (April 1988), "Nineteenth-century American health reformers and the early nature cure movement in Britain", Medical History 32 (2): 174–194, PMID 3287059 
  2. ^ a b "History of Naturopathy". 2007. http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/library/2007/03/12/history-of-naturopathy/. 
  3. ^ a b c "Report 12 of the Council on Scientific Affairs (A-97)". American Medical Association. 1997. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/13638.shtml. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Baer, H.A (2001), "The sociopolitical status of US naturopathy at the dawn of the 21st century", Medical Anthropology Quarterly 15 (3): 329–346, doi:10.1525/maq.2001.15.3.329 
  5. ^ a b c d Atwood KC (2003). Naturopathy: a critical appraisal.. 5. pp. 39. PMID 14745386. 
  6. ^ a b c "Handbook of Accreditation for Naturopathic Medicine Programs" (PDF). Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. 45. http://www.cnme.org/resources/2007_hoa.pdf. 
  7. ^ ^"Academic Curriculum". 2008. http://www.aanmc.org/education/academic-curriculum.php.
  8. ^ a b "A Policy Statement on Naturopathy". http://medicalboard.iowa.gov/Naturopathy.html. 
  9. ^ "What is Naturopathy?". 1998. http://www.naturopathy-uk.com/home/home-what-is-naturopathy/. 
  10. ^ a b "NCAHF Fact Sheet on Naturopathy". National Council Against Health Fraud. 2001-07-30. http://www.ncahf.org/articles/j-n/naturo.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 
  11. ^ "How it all began". http://www.allinsonflour.co.uk/history/. 
  12. ^ John A S Beard (3 May 2008), "Views & Reviews Medical Classics A System of Hygienic Medicine (1886) and The Advantages of Wholemeal Bread (1889)", British Medical Journal 336 (336): 1023, doi:10.1136/bmj.39562.446528.59, http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/336/7651/1023-a 
  13. ^ a b c d e Barrett S. "A close look at naturopathy". http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Naturopathy/naturopathy.html. 
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  19. ^ a b Webb, Edwin C (1977). Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Homoeopathy and Naturopathy. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. ISBN 064292287X. http://www.naturowatch.org/hx/australia.html. 
  20. ^ a b Clark, Carolyn Chambers (1999), Encyclopedia of Complementary Health Practice, New York: Springer, pp. 57–58, ISBN 9780826112392, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cwYnA1qunUwC&pg=PA58&dq=modalities+naturopathy&lr=&sig=ACfU3U3Z418Eg_P2yDetYOMmsclZ9mJGpg#PPA57,M1 
  21. ^ "Naturopathic Doctor's Oath". http://www.naturopathic.org/viewbulletin.php?id=62. 
  22. ^ "Principles of Naturopathic Medicine". http://www.ccnm.edu/?q=about_ccnm/principles_naturopathic_medicine. 
  23. ^ "Guide to the Ethical Conduct of Naturopathic Doctors" (PDF). http://www.boardofnaturopathicmedicine.on.ca/pdf/guide_ethical_conduct.pdf. 
  24. ^ Vincent Di Stefano (2006). Holism and Complementary Medicine: Origins and Principles. Allen & Unwin Academic. pp. 107. ISBN 1741148464. 
  25. ^ Carroll, Robert Todd. "Naturopathy". Skeptic's Dictionary. http://skepdic.com/natpathy.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 
  26. ^ Herbert Victor, Barrett Stephen (1994). The vitamin pushers: how the "health food" industry is selling America a bill of goods. Buffalo, N.Y: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-909-7. 
  27. ^ Barrett, Stephen; Raso, Jack (1993). Mystical diets: paranormal, spiritual, and occult nutrition practices. Buffalo, N.Y: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-761-2. 
  28. ^ a b Singh S; Ernst E (2008). Trick or treatment : the undeniable facts about alternative medicine. New York: W. W. Norton. ISBN 0393066614. OCLC 181139440. 
  29. ^ a b c Skolnick, Andrew A. (2004-11-18). "Voice of Reason: Licensing Naturopaths May Be Hazardous to Your Health". Live Science. http://www.livescience.com/health/naturopathy_license_041118.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 
  30. ^ a b Gulla, Richard P. (2005-05-11). "Massachusetts Medical Society Testifies in Opposition to Licensing Naturopaths". http://www.massmed.org/AM/PrinterTemplate.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=12458&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 
  31. ^ a b c d Holly J. Hough, Catherine Dower, Edward H. O’Neil (September 2001) (PDF), Profile of a profession: naturopathic practice, Center for the Health Professions, University of California, pp. 54, http://www.pewscholars.com/pdf_files/Naturo2.pdf 
  32. ^ a b c d Atwood KC (26 March 2004). "Naturopathy, pseudoscience, and medicine: myths and fallacies vs truth". Medscape Gen Med 6 (1): 33. 
  33. ^ a b Jacqueline Young (2007), Complementary Medicine for Dummies, Chichester, England: Wiley, ISBN 9780470026250, OCLC 174043853 
  34. ^ a b "American Association of Naturopathic Physicians". http://www.naturopathic.org/viewbulletin.php?id=118. 
  35. ^ "Welcome". Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. http://www.cand.ca. 
  36. ^ "NABNE". North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. http://www.nabne.org. 
  37. ^ "Council on Naturopathic Medical Education". http://www.cnme.org. 
  38. ^ a b McKnight, P (2009-03-07). "Naturopathy's main article of faith cannot be validated: Reliance on vital forces leaves its practises based on beliefs without scientific backing". Vancouver Sun. http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1364389. Retrieved on 2009-03-21. 
  39. ^ "Handbook of accreditation for Naturopathic Programs" (PDF). Council on Naturopathic Medical Education. 2008. 51. http://www.cnme.org/resources/2007_hoa.pdf. 
  40. ^ Finocchio LJ, Dower CM, Blick NT, Gragnola CM and the Taskforce on Health Care Workforce Regulation (October 1998). "Strengthening Consumer Protection: Priorities for Health Care Workforce Regulation" (PDF). Pew Health Professions Commission. http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/RTF.PDF. Retrieved on 2009-04-01. 
  41. ^ Texas Administrative Code title 22, part 9 § 200.3, 1998
  42. ^ Hough HJ, Dower C, O’Neil EH (September 2001). "Profile of a profession: naturopathic practice" (PDF). Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco. http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/Naturo2.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-04-21. 
  43. ^ "Joint RACGP/AIMA Working Party Terms of Reference". The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. http://www.racgp.org.au/racgpaimajwp. 
  44. ^ "Sunrise Review: Naturopathic Physicians" (PDF). State of Colorado. 2008. 19. http://www.dora.state.co.us/OPR/archive/2008NaturopathicPhysiciansSunrise.pdf. 
  45. ^ Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
  46. ^ CBC News - B.C. gives naturopaths right to prescribe drugs
  47. ^ "Ley para Reglamentar el Ejercicio de la Medicina Naturopática en Puerto Rico [Law to Regulate the Practice of Naturopathic Medicine in Puerto Rico]" (in Spanish) (PDF). 30 December 1997. http://www.oslpr.org/download/ES/1997/208s0783.pdf. 
  48. ^ a b c "Reports to the Board of Trustees". American Medical Association. 2006-11. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/38/i-06bot.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-19. 
  49. ^ "South Carolina Code of Laws Section 40-31-10". http://www.scstatehouse.net/code/t40c031.htm. 
  50. ^ "Tennessee Code 63-6-205". Tennessee State Legislature. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/. 
  51. ^ National Science Board (April 2002). "Science and engineering indicators". Arlington, Virginia: National Science Foundation Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind02/c7/c7s5.htm. 
  52. ^ Wahlberg A (2007). "A quackery with a difference—new medical pluralism and the problem of 'dangerous practitioners' in the United Kingdom". Social Science & Medicine 65 (11): 2307–2316. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.07.024. PMID 17719708. 
  53. ^ "Iridology is nonsense". http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/iridology.html. , a web page with further references
  54. ^ Carroll, Robert. "Natural". The Skeptic's Dictionary. http://skepdic.com/natural.html. Retrieved on 2009-03-21. 
  55. ^ "NCAHF Position Paper on Over the Counter Herbal Remedies (1995)". National Council Against Health Fraud. 1995. http://www.ncahf.org/pp/herbal.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 
  56. ^ "Application for licensure : naturopathic physician" (PDF). State of Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/forms/applications/072_naturopathic_phys.pdf. 
  57. ^ Relman, Arnold S. (2001-01-09). "Textbook of Natural Medicine". Quackwatch. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Naturopathy/relman1.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-17. 

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