Re: future of naturopathic medicine

I think MD internist is misinformed about the benefits of naturopathic medicine. Simply because there is a lack of "evidence-based" material in CAM should not imply that it is "quackery." I am a person who loves science and medicine, and though I understand the modalities of conventional medicine, I know for a fact that naturopathic medicine is much bigger and powerful than what society is claiming it to be.

My biggest turn-off about conventional medicine is that it never really "treats" the patient. More than often conventional medicine treats the symptoms of the patient, leading to a never ending cycle of "treatable symptoms." Along with this comes taking more medication, more time spent in the doctor's office, and essentially, less time for the patient to enjoy his or her life. Just because a procedure or a medication has been shown to work on 99% of the population, there is no guarantee that it will work on the next patient. With this in mind, it is important to think of the individualized care that is overlooked in naturopathic medicine. When I think of becoming a doctor, I think about how I will be able to make an impact on my patient's life. What patient will present a challenge to me and will allow me to be as creative as possible when treating? Referring him/her to this doctor or that doctor is not my idea of being a great physician or giving them a bunch of pills to take is not my idea of being creative. Besides, if naturopathic medicine were indeed a bunch of "quackery," why is it that most of the eastern (i.e. Asian, African, Aboriginal, etc) and indigenous cultures, who use almost exclusively naturopathic remedies and medicines, have some of the world's longest life expectancies? They must be doing something right!

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