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Naturopathic
methods are less likely to cause injury to the patient than conventional
treatments because:
- On
average, naturopathic doctors will spend 90 minutes to complete a thorough
patient history. Follow-up visits generally last from 15 to 45 minutes. As a
result of obtaining such a thorough history, combined with our clinical
training in pathology and clinical diagnosis, we are able to recognize
potential harmful and life-threatening situations. Naturopathic doctors know
the limits of their methods and refer patients to other practitioners or
specialists when appropriate.
-
Naturopathic doctors by philosophy and training use the least invasive means
possible in the prevention and treatment of ailments.
-
Naturopathic treatments are generally safe when used properly (eg. dietary
modification and homeopathy). Naturopathic doctors are educated on
potentially dangerous natural substances and potential supplement/herb/drug
interactions.
As such,
naturopathic medicine reduces the incidence of adverse reactions to prescription
medications and reduces the incidence of iatrogenic (doctor-induced) illnesses.
These are significant when considering that about two percent of drug
prescriptions in the United States result in hospital admission and as many as
one-third of patients admitted to hospitals contract another illness while
there, resulting in longer hospital stays. Adverse reactions may add as much as
$5 billion annually to health care costs and are considered the third leading
cause of death in the U.S.
Effectiveness
The efficacy
of the modalities used in naturopathic medicine is supported by considerable
research. Educational and research centers have expanded to include the
investigation of alternative and complementary treatments. Such centers
include:
- Division
for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies,
Harvard Medical
School
- Center
for Alternative Medicine Research and Education, Department of Medicine, Beth
Israel Deaconess
Medical
Centers
- National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National
Institutes of Health
- Office
of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Cancer Institute
- Bastyr
University AIDS Research Center
- Center
for Cancer Complementary Medicine, John Hopkins Center
Legislation / Regulation of Naturopathic Medicine in North
America
Naturopathic medicine is
currently regulated under provincial law in 4 provinces: British
Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Completion of legislation is
pending in Alberta and commencing in Nova Scotia. In the United States,
naturopathic doctors are licensed/regulated in the following states, districts
and territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,
District of Columbia, Florida,
Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon,
Puerto Rico,
Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Legislation is pending in Texas,
Minnesota and Massachusetts.
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Regulation of Naturopathic Medicine" |
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