We Need to Stop Treating Naturopaths Like They’re Medical Doctors

[Act_of_Reparation]

129. I've had much time to do things either more pressing or more enjoyable...

...than pointing out in painful detail why a ridiculous position is unworthy of my time and attention, especially when one considers that those who hold ridiculous positions and those who lack the knack for critical self-reflection necessary to change positions are typically cut from the same cloth. But no matter. It's Caturday, so here's why everything you've said so far is a metric cartload of bullshit.

Fact: Informed, educated (including or esp. self-educated) patients have the best outcomes.

For most patients, the primary source of information on their health is their physician, so it also helps if those treating the patients know what they're doing. Medical doctors usually go to medical school. Chiropractors, accupuncturists, naturopaths, and other peddlers of woo do not.

Study up your symptoms. Listen to your Medical Doctor (allopathic) / Naturopath. Ask lots of questions. Then study the diagnosis. Get second opinions for serious matters, time permitting.

With all that bouncing around between different PCP's and specialists, it's a good thing we have single payer healthcare to absorb the co... oh, right.

Fact: Naturopaths rarely have as much training and education as medical doctors. A few have more than most MDs (nothing is 100% one way or the other).

How many is "a few"? Can you reccomend any of them?

Pro tip: Naturopaths didn't get to be so popular by being honest about their credentials.

Better pro tip: Those few naturopaths who do have strong medical credentials still lie to people. See Dr. Oz.

Fact: Medical doctors are not generally trained in and not generally as open to alternative medicine as they should be and especially not as understanding of nutrition as they should be. Some are. Note: nothing is 100% one way or the other.

This fact is not actually a fact.

Medical researchers are constantly testing "natural remedies" for their therapeutic uses and effectiveness. Anyone current on their medical education should have a pretty good idea of where things stand. Seeing as many medical doctors must complete Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits to keep their jobs while naturopaths suffer no such compunction, it's a good bet your doctor knows more about the effectiveness of natural remedies than the woo peddler down the street.

This might be anecdotal, but it is worth pointing out that almost every medical college has a few faculty looking into alternative medicine as either primary or supportive treatments. How many woo-schools have actual physicians teaching the next generation of woo-peddlers actual medicine?

Are there exceptions? Sure. But honestly, what are the fucking odds?

Fact: Medical doctors tend to over-prescribe pills and surgery (because that is what they primarily study).

This fact is actually half-a-fact.

Doctors, as a trend, overprescribe. But it isn't because "that's what they study" (it's because in many cases, that's what patients want) and it doesn't mean your doctor is over-prescribing.

Fact: Naturopaths under-prescribe pills and surgery (because they aren't allowed to), but many of them (not all) will refer patients to MDs when appropriate.

Right. Naturopaths will refer you to someone who knows what they're doing. What, exactly, does that say about naturopathy?

Bottom-line: Trust science, inform yourself, keep an open mind, choose less medicine when it is a reasonable first approach and only when reasonable, stay rational and cautious, be ready to decide quickly when necessary, don't avoid drugs / surgery when it makes sense especially after trying other approaches.

Bottom-line: Naturopaths are not honest. They lie. They disseminate information that is not true to people who are either too trusting or too ideologically invested in "nature" to make informed decisions.

On paper, your suggestion makes sense. In practice... seriously, man. You need to get out more.

For example, I use very little doctoring (I know I have been very lucky so far) and place the highest priority on good nutrition & exercise.

Cool story, bro, but that's not naturopathy. That's common sense. Any doctor worth a fuck will tell you to do exactly that. And the naturopaths aren't peddling diet and exercise. They're peddling magic potions made from onion juice and pancake syrup to treat actual medical problems requiring actual medicine to treat.

Again, you're completely out of touch with the reality of the situation. People aren't using naturopathy as a preventative medicine with the intention of seeking actual medical treatment when necessary; they are using naturopathy as primary care, and doing so because the fucking naturopaths have turned anti-medical paranoia into a fucking cottage industry.

You don't bring hundreds of patients through your doors by playing on fears of the medical industry and expect them go to an actual doctor when they get actual sick. And you can't expect people to make informed decisions when you owe the entirety of your livelihood to spreading misinformation.

TL;DR: you can't rely on the average person to make an informed decision because the average person is no longer able to discern the difference between actual information and misinformation spread by the naturopathic industry. People making bad decision isn't the problem, the naturopaths are.