General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Naturopaths and the creep of pseudo-science [View all]mother earth
(6,002 posts)even hospitals are providing Reiki these days. Energy medicine is another biggie that's growing in scope. There is a vast amount of tools to be thrown out if only traditional medicine is followed. In childbirth, doctors and nurses are always seeking out new and improved ways of birthing, midwives are on the scene if needed, doulas...research that, natural alternatives are on the uprise, my friend.
Alternative medicine is not woo, it is ALTERNATIVE, that's all. The more you understand about such things the more these new traditions are embraced for their value. This is called PROGRESS.
Even such practices as acupuncture are on the rise and being paid for by insurance companies, now you KNOW they don't like paying for services unless they are of practical, proven benefit, same with chiropractors. There's a world of scientific knowledge opening up to us, now why would we turn it away and shout "woo", that would be counterproductive.
SCIENCE evolves, why shouldn't we? Have you ever heard of physical therapy which utilizes the same meridian points as acupuncture? TENS therapy, EMS, or craniosacral therapy? If we don't engage in these new technologies which are sometimes based on what might be termed as "woo", how are to progress in the field of medicine? Especially sports medicine, those docs LOVE, LOVE alternatives, as well as traditional, and their patients do too!
http://enow.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craniosacral_therapy
No, that's what you call it, because you are afraid you are wrong about "woo", ALTNERNATIVE medicine is advertised as such, holistic docs are highly sought after, you don't know what you are talking about, that much is clear. (Sid's OP is about Canadian practitioners, where they play by a different rulebook.)