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When Did "Natural" Come To Mean "Anti-Science"?

Dear Natural Health Movement,

Why are so many "natural" health practitioners so anti-science? Why does "un-proven" have to mean "worthless"? Can't it just mean "unproven?" And when did PhD come to stand for "traitor to your peers"? Isn't the American natural health movement based on freedom of choice?

Where do these knee-jerk reactions come from? I'm beginning to suspect that the real bigotry in the mainstream/alternative medicine feud is more lopsided that most people believe. And perhaps I'm on the wrong side, after all.

Sincerely,

Seriously Considering a Career Change

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Elly's picture

Doctors and alternate therapies

Submitted by Elly on Mon, 2006-05-01 21:30.

I find it somewhat amusing to attend a medical practitioner and explain that the reason one's psoriasis has gone after 40 years of unsuccessful traditional medical treatment was that I used a natural health juice, or that I have no need to be on other medication (I think I must be the only person my age without a fistfull of medication to take on a daily or hourly basis)because of my use of natural remedies. The doctors can't cope - and mutter strange things, or look at me in disbelief! They just don't get it. Fortunately an increasing number of medical practioners are showing interest, but it will be along way before it is accepted. Even getting politicians to agree that there is some value in alternate health, and accepting that governments need to accept, monitor and perhaps licence alternate health practitioners seems to be hard to achieve.

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deorre's picture

Good Points, Lisa...

Submitted by deorre on Mon, 2006-05-01 16:35.

Anti-Science does seem to imply worthless and 'questionable'. I like unproven better. With anectodal successes.

What is your profession, Lisa?

deorre

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Lisa's picture

Thanks for asking.

Submitted by Lisa on Mon, 2006-05-01 17:35.

You can probably tell I've had a long day. ;-)

I am what's known as a traditional naturopath. (I went down the PhD path instead of med school.) I'm a hair's width away from my PhD in naturopathy and I have certificates in various therapies including Ayurveda Education and herbalism. BUT. . . since I live in a state that doesn't license naturopaths, I write natural health articles.

I don't have a problem with "unproven". Evening primrose oil is "unproven" for eczema but it's kept me off steroids for 14 years, so I'm a believer, ya' know?

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deorre's picture

Similarly...

Submitted by deorre on Tue, 2006-05-02 05:31.

I went down the road of Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Finished nearly everything but the dissertation, which went back and forth with my committee for quite some time. I shifted my focus, during that process, to thriving rather than pathology. Now Doctorally Certified in Stress Management. I like to write about that stuff, though still looking for the key that makes it interesting to a broad range of people.

deorre

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