[photon]

Originally Posted by Regorium

Now, is it fluke that the one naturopath was able to make the correct diagnosis and solve the problem, and that 15 trained and licensed dermatologists could not? Possibly. It hasn't sold me completely, but I was impressed that they were able to get it right the first time, fluke or no fluke.

Of course it wasn't a fluke, you said that they had allergy tests done and there was allergies, nothing unusual there. As to why the other ones didn't have the allergy tests done, I'm not them so I can't say.

Originally Posted by Regorium

Right, but even in this thread, there seems to be a trend where naturopaths are far better at identifying allergy related issues than regular doctors.

Or it could be that with naturopaths allergies are nails and their favorite tool is a hammer. Or it could be the people posting in this thread report positive experiences while those that didn't have one don't post (remembering the hits and forgetting the misses is a well known cognitive bias).

If you want to identify a trend, you need data, not self selecting anecdotes.

I'm not saying there isn't a trend, but to identify it you have to gather the data properly and study it properly and analyze it properly, which is something alternative peddlers typically don't do or even avoid.

Originally Posted by Regorium

It's evident that their approach to diagnosis is completely different, and it appears to be more effective at some things than others.

Based on a few anecdotes? That's like saying the Flames will go undefeated after they win 2 games.

Originally Posted by Regorium

what's the harm?

As long as it's with the knowledge and involvement of a qualified medical professional the risk is probably low (so that the person doesn't die from ineffectual "treatments" for actual serious problems).

Because without a doctor's involvement there is harm.. much of what a naturopath thinks is unscientific, based on nothing more than tradition. Naturopaths have fought proven things like vaccines based on unscientific ideas. They don't self-regulate in the way the medical industry does.

So the harm is people viewing an ND as as equivalent to or an alternative to an actual medical practitioner, or ND's portraying themselves as that. If you walk into an ND are they going to ask you "have you seen your doctor"?

EDIT: http://www.skepticnorth.com/2009/11/...ths-prescribe/

EDIT2: Here's a response to the article, and the comments section is very interesting to read: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b....aspx#comments