Natural Healing Making Headway in the United States
From: Dr. Jai Maharaj (usenet_at_mantra.com)
Date: 02/05/05
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Date: Sat, 05 Feb 2005 21:13:50 GMT
Natural Healing Making Headway in the United States
Forwarded message from Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>
[ Subject: Natural Healing Making Headway in the United States
[ From: Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>
[ Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2005
Natural Healing Making Headway in the United States
http://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/5/natural_health.htm
California has become the newest state to license naturopathic
doctors -- a step the naturopathic profession feels is important
toward awareness and growth of the little-known field.
Naturopathic medicine originated from the 19th century European
natural healing movement, involving treatments at natural mineral
springs and spas. At the start, naturopathy included:
Fasting
Folk remedies
Eating whole-grain bread
Standing in cold waterfalls
Running barefoot through the snow
In addition, one of the founding principals of this profession is the
belief in the healing power of nature, the idea that the "whole"
person should be treated and that prevention of disease is as
important as the cure.
Differences Between the Naturopathic Approach and Conventional
Medicine
There are many differences between naturopathy and conventional
medicine.
For example, one naturopathic doctor explains that while conventional
medicine tends to focus on a specialization in diseases, naturopathy
tends to focus on therapeutic approaches.
Also, the biggest difference between a visit to a naturopathic doctor
and a medical doctor is that naturopathic doctors typically spend
more time with their patients and place a strong emphasis on treating
the root of the medical problem rather than the symptoms.
A typical first visit to a naturopathic doctor can last anywhere from
60 to 90 minutes. This is because, as one naturopathic doctor put it,
the relationship with the patient is key. Conversations with the
patients can promote a patient-doctor relationship that builds
confidence and a willingness to make the kind of changes that promote
total health and wellness. Moreover, assessing why patients are sick
and what is necessary to make them healthy takes a lot of work, time
and commitment.
Naturopathic doctors treat health conditions on a basic level, but
refer patients to medical doctors if an illness or treatment gets
more complicated.
Conventional Doctors' Concerns of the Naturopathic Profession
They say the profession and many of its therapies are scientifically
unsound
Naturopathic doctors do not receive extensive enough training; the
consistency and quality of training for naturopaths varies
considerably
They say doctors of the naturopathic profession should not be able to
perform minor surgeries, deliver babies or prescribe drug
- - - - -
Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Much of the above article explains the history behind naturopathy,
whose philosophies cut to the heart of what my staff and I practice
daily at the Optimal Wellness Center. Additionally, I believe NDs are
so qualified to practice natural medicine that I will shortly be
hiring several to work as editors on the newsletter.
Although it's too early to determine if the licensing of naturopaths
will prompt more Californians to seek their services, Washington
State, which has licensed naturopaths for almost 20 years, may show
where the trend is heading. The state has more than 600 practitioners
who are used as both complementary and primary care doctors. Also, by
that state's law, insurance is required to cover visits to
naturopathic physicians.
Importance of Naturopathy
As you may already know, I am an avid supporter of naturopathic
doctors (N.D.s) who have attended certified accredited four-year
naturopathic medical schools. Unfortunately, in states where N.D.s
are not licensed, anyone can call himself or herself an N.D. -- so
beware.
Naturopathic doctors are primary care physicians clinically trained
in natural therapeutics and whose philosophy is derived in part from
a Hippocratic teaching more than 2,000 years old: Vis mediatrix
naturae, or "Nature is the healer of all diseases." Their practice is
based on the same basic bio-medical science foundation that
allopathic practice is; however, (as you know from the above article)
their philosophies and approaches differ considerably from their
conventional counterparts.
Naturopathic physicians diagnose disease and treat patients by using
natural modalities such as physical manipulation, clinical nutrition,
herbal medicine, homeopathy, counseling, acupuncture and
hydrotherapy, among others. They choose treatment based on the
individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms. This
approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute
conditions.
Six Principles That Guide the Therapeutic Methods and Modalities of
Naturopathy
First Do No Harm (primum non nocere): Naturopathic medicine uses
therapies that are safe and effective.
The Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae): The human body
possesses the inherent ability to restore health. The physician's
role is to facilitate this process with the aid of natural, non-toxic
therapies.
Discover and Treat the Cause, Not Just the Effect (tolle causam):
Physicians seek and treat the underlying cause of a disease. Symptoms
are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal. The
origin of disease is removed or treated so the patient can recover.
Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum): The multiple factors in health
and disease are considered while treating the whole person.
Physicians provide flexible treatment programs to meet individual
health care needs.
The Physician is a Teacher (docere): The physician's major role is to
educate, empower and motivate patients to take responsibility for
their own health. Creating a healthy cooperative relationship with
the patient has a strong therapeutic value.
Prevention is the best "cure:" Naturopathic physicians are preventive
medicine specialists. Physicians assess patient risk factors and
heredity susceptibility and intervene appropriately to reduce risk
and prevent illness. Prevention of disease is best accomplished
through education and a lifestyle that supports health.
- - - - -
Nonphysicians eager to pick up prescription pad
Empowered by recent victories, nonphysicians gear up for 2005
legislative efforts to expand their scope.
By Myrle Croasdale, AMNews staff. Feb. 7, 2005
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/02/07/prl10207.htm
Nonphysicians such as naturopaths and psychologists, having seen
their colleagues in other states win the right to prescribe or
otherwise expand their scope of practice, are expected to push hard
for the same authority in more states in 2005. Meanwhile, organized
medicine is getting ready to fight their efforts.
According to the American Psychological Assn., psychologists in
Hawaii, Wyoming and Tennessee are talking to their legislators about
introducing bills that would expand their prescription authority, and
psychologists are expected to do likewise in another three to six
states this year.
The American Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians says at least 11 states
will see licensing campaigns by its constituents in 2005.
Practitioners from podiatrists to nurse anesthetists to optometrists
are also planning to seek to expand their scope of practice to
include tasks normally performed only by physicians.
Russ Newman, PhD, executive director for professional practice at the
American Psychological Assn, said psychologists want to prescribe
because otherwise, many people would not get the mental care they
need.
"The access issue is not uniquely a rural issue," Dr. Newman said.
"Access issues also take place in urban areas, as evidenced by
waiting times to see psychiatrists. ... When people run into
obstacles to accessing care, often they decide to not continue to
seek care and never get any."
Patients spend more than $27 billion a year for nonphysician care.
Steven Sharfstein, MD, president-elect of the American Psychiatric
Assn., said such arguments don't adequately address patient safety.
His group opposed legislation in New Mexico and Louisiana allowing
psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications and is fighting a
bill in New Mexico to expand their prescription formulary to include
off-label drugs.
"Prescribing [psychotropic] medication is very complicated," said Dr.
Sharfstein, a Baltimore psychiatrist. "As physicians, we know what
our limits are. We know when we need to ask for help."
Organized medicine is gearing up to help physicians protect patients
and keep medicine within the ranks of those trained to practice it.
John C. Nelson, MD, MPH, president of the American Medical
Association, said the organization's prime concern is patient safety.
"A person who is not a physician ought to be able to practice within
their training," Dr. Nelson said. "If they want to increase their
scope, they should do it through education, not legislation."
The AMA's newly formed scope-of-practice advisory committee, made up
of representatives from state medical and specialty societies, is
considering ways to bolster physician resources, including the
possibility of establishing a resource center on scope-of-practice
issues.
Activities of such a center might include researching rural health
and seeing whether access actually improves when nonphysicians gain
prescribing rights.
The Federation of State Medical Boards also has stepped into the
fray.
James N. Thompson, MD, president and CEO of the federation, said its
special committee on scope of practice had drafted a list of
guidelines to enable legislators to make educated decisions on
scope-of-practice bills.
The proposed guidelines will go before FSMB delegates in May.
Why scope is expanding
One of the forces propelling nonphysicians is deepening public
acceptance of their trade. According to the latest Institute of
Medicine report, "Complementary and Alternative Medicine by the
American Public," one-third of U.S. adults use some form of
alternative medicine, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and
naturopathy. Total visits to these practitioners now exceed those to
primary care physicians on an annual basis, and these patients spend
more than $27 billion a year out of their own pockets for this care.
In California, the 13th state to license naturopaths, such acceptance
underpinned naturopaths' efforts to gain prescribing rights. While
they may prescribe medication only under physician supervision, they
may order diagnostic tests and prescribe and administer herbs,
vitamins and mineral supplements.
California issued its first batch of naturopathic doctor licenses in
January, and by January 2006, it should finalize the formulary NDs
may prescribe under physician supervision.
Because California is considered a bellwether for health care trends,
the American Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians hopes to duplicate what
it achieved in California, particularly winning enough prescribing
authority for NDs to be considered front-line health care
practitioners.
Tara Levy, ND, one of the state's first licensed naturopaths and
president of the California Naturopathic Doctors Assn., is looking
forward to the added freedom to order her own diagnostic tests and do
a limited amount of prescribing.
"This will change my role as a doctor for some of my patients," she
said.
"I feel like I've been operating with one hand behind my back until
now."
The success of such nonphysicians reflects growing demand for health
care that focuses on wellness, rather than only traditional
therapies, she said, and physicians should see this as an
opportunity, not a threat.
While naturopaths in California are marching along in their licensing
process, so are psychologists in Louisiana and New Mexico, the only
two states that allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic drugs.
Both recently finalized regulations outlining their licensing
processes.
But it took New Mexico three years to complete these regulations,
while Louisiana did it in less than a year. In part this was because
New Mexico required its Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of
Psychologist Examiners to work together to develop its regulations.
Louisiana, in contrast, permitted the state's psychologists to
develop the prescription licensing regulations without physician
input.
Jack Lewin, MD, CEO of the California Medical Assn., which opposed
licensing NDs, said physicians facing similar legislative efforts
should approach them without being defensive.
"The plain and simple fact is that most patients, once they become
fully aware of the difference between a physician and a naturopath,
will ultimately choose physician care for most of their needs," he
said.
Physicians push back
The Federation of State Medical Boards is considering adopting
guidelines on what states should address when dealing with
scope-of-practice issues.
Some issues raised in the guidelines, to be presented for adoption at
the May FSMB meeting:
Whether the scope-of-practice change is needed, and whether the need
can be verified Impact on patient safety
The licensure, certification and registration processes set up to
handle the scope-of-practice change
If independent practice is called for, or if physician collaboration
or supervision needed
Whether various regulatory boards will work together when
investigating and making disciplinary decisions on complaints
involving multiple practitioners
Disclosure requirements for practitioners' qualifications
What financial implications are tied to the change in scope of
practice
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Naturopaths gain ground
There are 13 states that license naturopaths, as do the District of
Columbia and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Islands.
According to the American Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians, this year
naturopaths are seeking to expand their scope of practice in at least
two of these states. They are also pursuing licensing in at least
another 11 states.
Naturopaths are licensed: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut,
District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire,
Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, U.S. territories: Puerto Rico and
Virgin Islands
Naturopaths are seeking licensure: Colorado, Florida, Idaho,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Naturopaths are seeking to expand their scope of practice: Alaska,
Washington
Sources: Institute of Medicine, American Assn. of Naturopathic
Physicians, Health Policy Tracking Service
Weblinks
AMA policy on scope of practice model legislation
http://www.ama-assn.org/apps/pf_new/pf_online?f_n=browse&doc=policyfiles/DIR/D-35.996.HTM
California Dept. of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine
http://www.naturopathic.ca.gov
The American Assn. of Naturopathic Physicians
http://www.naturopathic.org
American Psychiatric Assn.
http://www.psych.org
New Mexico's Board of Psychologist Examiners' prescribing regulations
http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmregister/xv/xv24/xv24adopted.htm
American Psychological Assn.
http://www.apa.org
California Naturopathic Doctors Assn.
http://www.canp.org
End of forwarded message from Fidyl <fidyl@yahoo.com>
Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti
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"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send
peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
- Matthew 10:34-36.
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