Is naturopathic medicine scientific?
Yes. Research into complementary and alternative medicine has been ongoing, and is increasing now that interest and awareness have created more national funding opportunities. For more information on research into natural medicine, please visit the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Yes. There is a growing body of scientific research that validates the use of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic schools are increasingly conducting studies that are published in peer-reviewed journals. Numerous medical studies validate the clinical usefulness of natural medicines such as herbs, homeopathy and nutritional supplements.
Thousands of modern clinical research studies have validated a variety of natural medicines and approaches used by naturopathic doctors. Unfortunately, these studies are seldom publicized, and most research is still being funded by the pharmaceutical industry and focused on their products. But this is slowly changing now. Harvard Medical School recently established a division of Research and Education for Complementary and Integrative Medicine to scientifically evaluate complementary therapies including those which naturopathic doctors use. Many other medical and health institutions are following in Harvards footsteps. As these institutions begin to meet the increasing demands for evidence-based integrative medicine, we can be sure to hear more about scientific studies validating naturopathic medicine.
