INTERESTING TIMES

The just-passed resolution recognizes naturopathy as "safe, effective, affordable health care" and specifically recognizes the value of ND's in preventing disease. (ND's are currently licensed in 17 states, more to come.) It also designates a week for Naturopathic Medicine---Oct 7-13 this year.

Senate Passes Naturopathic Medicine Week Resolution
The U.S. Senate last night unanimously passed a resolution designating October 7 - October 13 as Naturopathic Medicine Week.

The resolution recognizes the value of naturopathic medicine in providing "safe, effective, and affordable health care..." and encourages Americans to learn about the role of naturopathic physicians in preventing chronic and debilitating conditions.

Passage of this resolution is an historic achievement for naturopathic medicine. The Congress has now officially recognized the important role naturopathic medicine plays in effectively addressing the nation's health care needs as well as in addressing the increasingly severe shortage of primary care physicians.

SOURCE
http://naturopathic.org/naturopathicmedicineweek
Not exactly big news:
I searched google news for "naturopathic medicine senate" today 9/11/13 and got NADA.

The old code was a restatement of the naturopathic treatment principles. The new code more explicitly addresses the issues which could affect our licensing. I like it that the new code specifies that we shall not give remedies without explaining what's in them. If only conventional physicians would do the same.

( The new Code of Ethics )

There's a licensing bill working its way through the state senate right now.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/sb0180.htm
http://www.mdanp.org/

Dear Supporters of Naturopathic Medicine,

Please take a moment to let your state legislators know you support HJ 124 (http://www.capwiz.com/naturopathic/issues/alert/?alertid=14687606).
It should take less than 90 seconds.
*******************************************************************************
( more from alert )

Looks like two different bills regarding naturopathic physicians have been introduced in TN.
http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0723
( What I've found out so far: one bill decriminalizes naturopathy, the other offers licensure. Both bills introduced by Republicans. At least at the state level republicans are doing some good work. =-] )

I have been thinking this for some time. It started when I realized that "naturopath" means "nature disease" and that is a crappy name for the profession that I would like to espouse. So what are we going to call ourselves? We being the people who attend CNME accredited schools, belong to the AANP, are getting extensive medical training. Behind the cut, Ken Winston Cain's articulate arguments as to why we need to embrace two classes of naturopathic doctors, the "traditional" naturopaths and the medically trained ones. Any attempt to claim the title "naturopath" just for ourselves results in a backlash from a great number of people who have been using that title longer than us and don't have in depth medical training. So by trying to take away the title of a less-trained group, we are taking on the cloud of quackery that surrounds their practices, and invoking their outright and justifiable rebellion. So we must stop it. Cain suggests adding words such as "integrative" or "medical" to our title. Integrative Medical Doctor sounds better to me, just drop the word "naturopath" entirely. What do you think? Time is of the essence. We need to ensure that all future licensure bills have recognition of the existing natural medicine practitioners without trying to steal their name or pretend that they don't exist. We need a name.
( the article )