Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing popularity of complementary and alternative medicines in Canada has led to regulatory reforms in Ontario and British Columbia. Yet the evidence for efficacy of these therapies is still a source of debate. Those who are...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-09-01
|
| Series: | Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology |
| Online Access: | http://www.aacijournal.com/content/7/1/14 |
| _version_ | 1811252895951093760 |
|---|---|
| author | Caulfield Timothy Rachul Christen |
| author_facet | Caulfield Timothy Rachul Christen |
| author_sort | Caulfield Timothy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing popularity of complementary and alternative medicines in Canada has led to regulatory reforms in Ontario and British Columbia. Yet the evidence for efficacy of these therapies is still a source of debate. Those who are supportive of naturopathic medicine often support the field by claiming that the naturopathic treatments are supported by science and scientific research.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To compare provinces that are regulated and unregulated, we examined the websites of 53 naturopathic clinics in Alberta and British Columbia to gain a sense of the degree to which the services advertised by naturopaths are science based.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were very few differences between the provinces in terms of the types of services offered and conditions treated. Many of the most common treatments--such as homeopathy, chelation and colon cleanses--are viewed by the scientific community to be of questionable value and have no scientific evidence of efficacy beyond placebo.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A review of the therapies advertised on the websites of clinics offering naturopathic treatments does not support the proposition that naturopathic medicine is a science and evidence-based practice.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:41:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c45f1221913465ea45cc768f754d7cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1710-1484 1710-1492 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:41:32Z |
| publishDate | 2011-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c45f1221913465ea45cc768f754d7cc2022-12-22T03:24:46ZengBMCAllergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology1710-14841710-14922011-09-01711410.1186/1710-1492-7-14Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the publicCaulfield TimothyRachul Christen<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The increasing popularity of complementary and alternative medicines in Canada has led to regulatory reforms in Ontario and British Columbia. Yet the evidence for efficacy of these therapies is still a source of debate. Those who are supportive of naturopathic medicine often support the field by claiming that the naturopathic treatments are supported by science and scientific research.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To compare provinces that are regulated and unregulated, we examined the websites of 53 naturopathic clinics in Alberta and British Columbia to gain a sense of the degree to which the services advertised by naturopaths are science based.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were very few differences between the provinces in terms of the types of services offered and conditions treated. Many of the most common treatments--such as homeopathy, chelation and colon cleanses--are viewed by the scientific community to be of questionable value and have no scientific evidence of efficacy beyond placebo.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A review of the therapies advertised on the websites of clinics offering naturopathic treatments does not support the proposition that naturopathic medicine is a science and evidence-based practice.</p>http://www.aacijournal.com/content/7/1/14 |
| spellingShingle | Caulfield Timothy Rachul Christen Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology |
| title | Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| title_full | Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| title_fullStr | Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| title_full_unstemmed | Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| title_short | Supported by science?: what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| title_sort | supported by science what canadian naturopaths advertise to the public |
| url | http://www.aacijournal.com/content/7/1/14 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caulfieldtimothy supportedbysciencewhatcanadiannaturopathsadvertisetothepublic AT rachulchristen supportedbysciencewhatcanadiannaturopathsadvertisetothepublic |