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[Medical-naturopathy curriculum in education. Introduction and organization of the medical-naturopathy curriculum from the Middle Ages into the 19th century].

A source-oriented research study that began with medieval library catalogs, provided the material needed to establish the organization and structuring of the teaching of natural science in monastic/convent schools. The further development of natural science from here to present-day teaching of biology was then traced. The wealth of material available since the late Middle Ages enabled the individual phases of development of this new teaching subject to be identified and their adoption into the Latin education system determined. This process revealed a series of different establishment phases. From the Middle Ages onwards, the study is based on teachers' and pupils' books known to have been used in the Latin education system, and, from the 18th Century onward, on an additional 7,000 or so school annual reports as well as, from the second part of the 19th Century, teaching curricula.

Curriculum↗

[On the general basis of naturopathy and complementary medicine].

UNLABELLED: On the General Basis of Naturopathy and Complementary Medicine BACKGROUND: Naturopathy and complementary medicine are discussed controversially in public: On the one hand naturopathy is increasingly accepted by the interested public, on the other hand members of the medical community display a critical or even rejecting attitude towards naturopathy. Clarification of the terminology and methods of medical science as well as of naturopathy is necessary. The goal is not only to reestablish the communication between 'classical medicine' and naturopathy but also to gain impulses for the health care system from a cooperation of both, especially with regard to cost development and the search for new solutions and therapies, for example for 'incurable' diseases. PROCEDURE: Here we describe the different view of naturopathy on humans and their diseases and investigate the current scientific knowledge. Naturopathy often has a different, a 'holistic' basis (anthropology), a different therapeutic approach (pathogenesis, salutogenesis). RESULTS: The understanding of science in today's medicine has its origin in history, therefore it is not only continuously changeable but also in need of change. On the one hand new findings from other scientific disciplines should be embraced, on the other hand especially medical science should react to the acute needs and questions of patients. Naturopathy in theory and in applied medicine proves its efficacy (different validities for different procedures). It is followed by the search for the principle of functioning (extension of science). Starting here, an extended understanding of mankind and nature and new models of disease and therapy can be developed. Also, medical ethics in the sense of naturopathy would demand as a first step the use of agents causing the least possible damage. Only when those agents fail, stronger interventions should be chosen. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the necessary enhancement of scientific evaluation of naturopathy and the development of explanatory models, impulses for better therapy approaches are to be expected. Qualitative (new therapy models) and economic (cost reduction) impulses for the health care system would be the result.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

[Special therapeutic practices from the viewpoint of naturopathy].

Naturopathy being orientated towards natural science and conventional medicine does not lead to basically different judgements about unconventional treatments nor about special therapies such as homeopathy, phytotherapy or anthroposophic medicine. It may, however, be more open-minded towards new ideas and theoretical even philosophical concepts and it is more likely used to question the 'state of the art' of actual medical knowledge. It is only for a relatively small part of unconventional treatments, that naturopathy recognizes a certain plausibility, which causes scientific investigation of the method to be meaningful. Naturopathy sometimes proposes traditional anthropologies and nosologies to be used for the election of suitable indications. A variety of psychologic effects of different methods of naturopathy may not be excluded by protocols used for clinical studies. As far as the majority of unconventional and paramedical treatments is concerned, naturopathy raises ethical beside scientific objections. Beyond a probable success of the treatment, it insists on a certain rationale and intellectual honesty. A differentiation between the more pragmatic interests of a health insurance and the scientific obligations of university medicine is given. An important and decisive criterium for the health insurances results from the demand for economics.

Complementary Therapies↗

Naturopathy in Canada: changing relationships to medicine, chiropractic and the state.

It is said that we can learn as much about social processes from so-called 'deviant' institutions than from the more legitimate. 'Deviant' medical occupations have not attracted much attention from social scientists. Naturopathy is one of these nonconventional health occupations. It emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries and moved to Canada from the United States and Europe early in the 20th. The social history of naturopathy in Canada illustrates the importance of processes of occupational formation and organization as well as state recognition or legitimation. Furthermore, the development of naturopathy shows the importance of state-occupation and naturopathy-chiropractic relationships as well as the often noted relationships with the dominant health occupation of medicine. Incidentally noted are the changing relationships with the state and the dominance of the ideology of science.

Canada↗

The potential rejuvenation of American naturopathy as a consequence of the holistic health movement.

Naturopathy is a heterodox professionalized medical system which, in contrast to osteopathy and chiropractic, has received little attention from social scientists, particularly in the United States. This article is an attempt to correct that situation. It focuses on the history of this healing tradition by discussing three stages in the development of American naturopathy: 1) its emergence around the turn of the century; 2) its decline beginning in the late 1930s; and 3) its recent potential rejuvenation, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The essay concludes that as a consequence of its philosophical and therapeutic eclecticism, naturopathy found itself pre-adapted to the holistic health movement that emerged in American society during the 1970s.

History, 19th Century↗

On the use of classical naturopathy and complementary medicine procedures in hospitals and clinics practicing gynecology and obstetrics in Germany. Results of a questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND: Classical naturopathy and complementary medicine procedures are used in all industrial countries, the only difference being the extent to which they are used. However, information pertaining to effects, safety and costs of such therapies remains incomplete. An important aim of this study was to establish to what extent women's hospitals and clinics in Germany adopt complementary medicine and naturopathy as a means of treatment and how often they are used and by whom. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a questionnaire regarding the use of complementary medicine and naturopathy, we contacted 1054 gynecology/obstetrics institutions. Of the 1054 contacted, 481 (45.6%) of the returned questionnaires could be analyzed and evaluated using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: Altogether per clinic an average of four different complementary medicine therapies was named which were used in the field of gynecology and obstetrics. Acupuncture (used in 94.1% of responding clinics) and homeopathy (used in 83.0% of responding clinics) were without doubt the two procedures that were used most often. Clear differences regarding both choice of therapy and frequency of use of a given therapy could be seen when comparing areas of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) with those of the former Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). No differences could be found pertaining to the comparison of university and non-university hospitals. CONCLUSION: Interesting tendencies could be seen regarding the willingness of hospital departments to widen their therapy spectrum by adopting complementary medicine procedures. These in turn led us to valuable conclusions as to the various strategies of patient care. Given the frequency of use of complementary medicine therapies in the field of gynecology and obstetrics, it must surely be concluded that research into complementary medicine approaches in such areas must be intensified.

Acupuncture↗

Naturopathy, Nightingale, and nature cure: a convergence of interests.

Naturopathy is making a strong resurgence in many Western countries, and its philosophical and theoretical basis has much in common with nursing theories of health. This article will give an overview of naturopathy, its origins in Hippocratic medicine and nature cure, and its re-emergence during the Victorian era in the context of a renewal of interest in health. The question is posed, 'To what extent did the nature cure movement of last century influence the thinking of Florence Nightingale?' An examination of her writings supports the hypothesis that nature cure was a significant influence on Nightingale's understanding of health and healing. Contemporary nursing theory is also congruent with naturopathic principles in significant ways, and a convergence between the two disciplines is emerging.

History, 19th Century↗

Attitudes and prior experience with respect to alternative medicine among dermatological patients: the Freiburg questionnaire on attitudes to naturopathy (FAN).

OBJECTIVES: 1) Development and validation of a questionnaire on the attitudes and prior therapies with respect to naturopathy. 2) Clinical application in patients with atopic dermatitis in conventional and unconventional inhospital therapy. METHODS: A questionnaire for patients with skin diseases was developed, which includes the following areas: 1. prior therapies (conventional, unconventional, and psychotherapeutic procedures), 2. attitudes to the procedures, 3. previous therapists, 4. sources of information about the disease. The questionnaire was validated on 1,288 inpatients and outpatients in three clinics. A comparison study using the questionnaire was performed with 73 inpatients with atopic dermatitis under conventional therapy and 59 inpatients under alternative-medical therapy. RESULTS: The patients undergoing alternative-medical therapy reported significantly more prior experience in both conventional and unconventional procedures. The unconventional procedures were rated significantly higher by these patients, while the patients under conventional treatment rated several conventional procedures significantly higher. With respect to previous therapists, patients under unconventional treatment had been treated significantly more frequently by physicians oriented toward naturopathy and nonmedical practitioners. Prior information concerning the disease had been obtained significantly more frequently by the patients under alternative-medical treatment. DISCUSSION: Patients with atopic dermatitis under conventional or alternative medical treatment differ widely from one another with respect to previous therapies and prior experience and attitudes to conventional and unconventional procedures. These selection effects must be taken into consideration when comparing various therapeutic approaches, e. g. in multicenter studies.

Attitude to Health↗

Efficacy of naturopathy and yoga in bronchial asthma--a self controlled matched scientific study.

Asthma is one of the common psychosomatic illness influenced by many factors. Bronchodilators give temporary relief and have side effects. The present study is aimed at finding the efficacy of a non-pharmacological approach of naturopathy and Yoga in bronchial asthma. A total no of 37 patients (19 men, 18 women) with mean age 35.06 yrs (men), 40.74 yrs (women) admitted to INYS, Bangalore, for the period of 21 days. The treatment included 1. Diet therapy 2. Nature cure treatment and 3. Yoga therapy. The various parameters including lung function test were measured on admission and once a week. Results showed the significant improvement in PEFR, VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV/FEC %, MVV, ESR and absolute eosinophil count. The patients reported a feeling of well being, freshness and comfortable breathing. Naturopathy and yoga helps in inducing positive health, alleviating the symptoms of disease by acting at physical and mental levels.

Adult↗

The sociopolitical status of U.S. naturopathy at the dawn of the 21st century.

Naturopathic medicine in the United States had its inception around the turn of the 20th century. Subsequently, it underwent a process of relatively rapid growth until around the 1930s, followed by a period of gradual decline almost to the point of extinction due to biomedical opposition and the advent of "miracle drugs." Because its therapeutic eclecticism had preadapted it to fit into the holistic health movement that emerged in the 1970s, it was able to undergo a process of organizational rejuvenation during the last two decades of the century. Nevertheless, U.S. naturopathy as a professionalized heterodox medical system faces several dilemmas as it enters the new millennium. These include (1) the fact that it has succeeded in obtaining licensure in only two sections of the country, namely, the Far West and New England; (2) increasing competition from partially professionalized and lay naturopaths, many of whom are graduates of correspondence schools; and (3) the danger of cooptation as many biomedical practitioners adopt natural therapies.

Culture↗

Homeopathy and naturopathy: practice characteristics and pediatric care.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the practice characteristics and pediatric care of homeopathic practitioners (HPs) and naturopathic doctors (NDs). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive survey. SETTING: Homeopathic and naturopathic practices in Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Homeopathic practitioners (N = 42) and NDs (N = 23) identified from the yellow pages, regional and national society membership lists, schools, magazine advertisements, and by word-of-mouth. The response rate was 55% (23/42) for HPs and 65% (15/23) for NDs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, practice characteristics, fee structure, and amount of pediatric care. Practitioners were asked for their approach to childhood immunizations and to treating a febrile neonate. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Almost all respondents were white. Among the HPs, 13 (57%) were licensed medical doctors. Naturopathic doctors and HPs reported having an average of only 25 to 40 patient visits per week, but children and adolescents accounted for up to one third of these visits. Nearly all reported treating children, but fewer than half of the practitioners reported any formal pediatric training. Initial patient visits typically lasted more than 1 hour and cost $140 to $150. Follow-up visits were scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks and lasted more than 30 minutes on average. Insurance covered less than one third of the patient visits, and sliding scale payments were offered by less than half of the respondents. Most practitioners reported that they did not actively recommend immunizations and fewer than half of the nonphysician practitioners reported that they would refer a 2-week-old neonate with a fever to a medical doctor or emergency medical facility. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients using homeopathy and naturopathy are children. Visits to these providers are frequent and fees are primarily paid out-of-pocket. Failure on the part of these providers to recommend immunizations or recognize potentially serious illnesses is cause for concern.

Adult↗

[Naturopathy as a contribution to cost control. Attempt at a cost analysis].

OBJECTIVE: A data analysis has been performed to investigate to what extent naturopathy may contribute to reducing costs of medical care. METHODS: The study included anonymous data from the second quarter of 1988 obtained from the North-Württemberg Kassenärztlichen Vereinigung (insurance company). Physicians practicing in this area at that time were compared to a similarly large collective of those designated additionally as naturopaths and/or homeopaths. RESULTS: Differences between the two groups were significant with respect to drug costs and disability certificates however not with respect to physician fees.

Cost Control↗

[Naturopathy and alternative medicine--definition of the concept and delineation].

Naturopathic and biological systems of medicine are defined as disciplines that are not directed straight-away against pathological processes as such; their effect is based on stimulating the body's own resources of healing and regulating the dysfunctions that become manifest as disease, using natural active principles as levers to fight disease. Genuine naturopathic systems have mostly been able to prove their science-based efficacy and can be employed successfully especially in chronic diseases and in the after-treatment of severe disease patterns i.e. within the framework of post-disease treatment or rehabilitation. This is contrasted by methods that have not been scientifically proven or acknowledged, i.e. "fringe" systems based on speculative models of thinking, that could not be proven as being clinically effective. These methods cannot be equated with those of naturopathy. German private sickness insurance companies exclude from payment all methods of examination and treatment that are not scientifically recognised, but the German state-managed sickness insurance system provides for paying a subsidy unless the method in question has been specifically excluded. Attention is drawn to the problems that arise if persons who are entitled to receiving a subsidy take out an additional private insurance to supplement the same.

Complementary Therapies↗

[Naturopathy--definition, importance in the education of physicians and pharmacists].

Recent legislation on licenses for physicians and pharmacists prescribes the teaching of naturopathic methods. This requires a clear definition of the subject, which is given in different ways, all definitions leading to the same result. The essential effect of naturopathic methods is to activate sick persons, i.e. it is--in the strict sense of these words--rehabilitating and preventive. Patients who were instructed by their physician and other therapists can subsequently apply these methods autonomously. To teach naturopathy and its methods is likely to be a good means to help students to develop a better understanding of causality in medicine which, as a result of recent physical knowledge and theses, has become very complex and difficult to comprehend.

Curriculum↗