Naturopathic medicine
| Alternative medicine | |
|---|---|
A homeopathic preparation of Hepar sulph
|
|
| Claims | "Nature Cure" |
| Related fields | Alternative medicine |
| Year proposed | early 20th century |
| Original proponents | Benedict Lust; Sebastian Kneipp |
| MeSH | D009324 |
| See also | Humorism, heroic medicine, Vitalism |
Naturopathy or naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine employing a wide array of pseudoscientific practices branded as "natural" and as promoting "self-healing," including homeopathy, herbalism, and acupuncture, as well as diet and lifestyle counseling. Naturopathic medicine is considered by the medical profession to be ineffective and possibly harmful, raising ethical issues about its practice. Naturopaths and naturopathic doctors have repeatedly been accused of being charlatans and practicing quackery.
The ideology and methods of naturopathy are based on vitalism and self-healing, rather than evidence-based medicine. Naturopathic education contains little of the established clinical training and curriculum completed by primary care doctors, as naturopaths mostly study unscientific notions and learn unproven diagnoses and treatments. Naturopaths generally recommend against modern medicine, including surgery, drugs, and vaccinations, in favor of methods claimed to be holistic and non-invasive. Naturopaths tend to oppose vaccines and teach their students anti- and alternative vaccine practices, resulting in lower vaccination rates. According to the American Cancer Society, "scientific evidence does not support claims that naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or any other disease."
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