“Naturopathy, sometimes referred to as "natural medicine," is a largely pseudoscientific approach said to "assist nature", "support the body's own innate capacity to achieve optimal health" , and "facilitate the body's inherent healing mechanisms." Naturopaths assert that diseases are the body's effort to purify itself, and that cures result from increasing the patient's "vital force." They claim to stimulate the body's natural healing processes by ridding it of waste products and "toxins." At first glance, this approach may appear sensible. However, a close look will show that naturopathy's philosophy is simplistic and that its practices are riddled with quackery.”
I am assuming that Stephen Barrett, M.D. has never witnessed the beneficial results of a homeopathic healer. He has probably only witnessed what people have done to themselves trying to use these remedies on their own without the many years of study that is necessary to make a working remedy. Many modern doctors are ignorant and stubborn when it comes to alternative therapies because they were not taught them. People feel uncomfortable when something changes, but I believe that it is a time for a healthier change in medical practices.
These discredits are not only for Homeopathic healers but chiropractors, acupuncturists, aroma therapists, energy healers, hands on healers, massage therapists, and practitioners of Ancient Chinese medicine. These are only a few examples of the many healers that the medical community discredits. Yet many of these practices were here long before “traditional” medicine was even thought of. In fact many of the medicines that are prescribed today were discovered by herbalists centuries ago. A few examples of these are digitalis, which is found in the foxglove, salicin in white willow bark, and penicillin which is found in a mold. Digitalis is used to treat heart conditions and is in many of today’s medicines. Salicin is the active ingredient in aspirin and has been used since the ancient Egyptians discovered it, and penicillin is a wonderful antibiotic which was found in a mold that grows on certain breads and fruit. Not only have some of the most useful drugs come from nature but they are also much healthier for your body if taken as a whole plant, seed, leaf, etc.
Harnessing the chemicals in plants and making them more concentrated in pills seems like a wonderful idea, but in isolating the chemical wanted they have left out the other chemicals that nature put in the plant to help balance it. White willow bark does not cause stomach discomfort or wearing away of the mucosal layers of the stomach as aspirin does. This is because of the balance that Gaia put into every one of her creations. This however does not mean that you can eat anything you want in nature. In the right –or wrong perhaps- dose anything can be detrimental to your health if not deadly. In fact just handling some plants can cause rashes and even poisoning. That is why we need professionals who know what they are doing.
These facts have led me to think that it is high time that alternative healers got their due. Although there will still be complaints from regular doctors, it is time to move forward and establish a health agency just for natural medicine, and although there are colleges that do teach forms of natural medicine, there should be med schools that cater only to the natural healer. The “traditional” doctors can deny credit for only so long.
~SilverThorn
References
Barrett M.D., Stephen. "A close look at Naturopathy." naturowatch.com. 23 12 2003. 10 Feb 2009
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