This year naturopathic “doctors” are trying for the 11th time to gain licensure in Massachusetts. Ahead of a public hearing tomorrow, November 17th, on a pair of naturopathic licensing bills (S1205 and H1992) in front of the Joint Committee on Public Health, I think it is important to provide lawmakers and members of the public with snapshots of what naturopathic “doctors” are doing in Massachusetts.

Here are some screenshots of naturopathic practice websites in Massachusetts from naturopaths who went to the “accredited” schools:

Valley Natural Health

www.valleynaturopathicfamilymedicine.com

Most questionable advertised treatment:

Ozone and ultraviolet light therapy

involves taking six to seven ounces of blood out of your body, and exposing it to Ozone gas. After the blood has been thoroughly mixed with gas, it is slowly given back to your body. On it’s way back into your body (through an IV drip), it is further passed through a UV light machine. Now your blood has been cleansed of UV-sensitive pathogens. If you give that blood a clean slate, and your body can now “see” the antigen structure of those organisms. It knows that those organisms are there, but the organisms happen to be dead, so they’re not going to hurt you. Your body can then see those organisms and mount a much more efficient immune response.

Practitioner(s): Emily Maiella , graduated from Bastyr University Nitya Eisenheim , graduated from Bastyr University



Dr. Lisa Anne Arnold

www.drlisaarnold.com

Most questionable advertised treatment:

Homeopathy

the energetic use of plant, animal, mineral substances; Homeopathic medicines or “remedies” gently stimulate a person’s inherent healing ability. The entire range of mental, emotional and physical symptoms is considered with each patient. A single remedy is then chosen which addresses the complex pattern of a disease or dysfunction while taking into account the uniqueness of the individual.

Practitioner(s): Lisa Anne Arnold , graduated from Bastyr University



Lexington Natural Health Center

www.lexingtonnaturalhealth.com

Most questionable advertised treatment:

Alternative cancer treatments

Some of the natural medicines Dr. Belanger uses include curcumin, theaflavin, bilberry, andrographis, pancreatic enzymes, resveratrol, quercetin, stinging nettles leaf, Dan Shen, garlic, genistein, lumbrokinase, ginkgo, eleutherococcus, lactoferrin, AHCC, berberine and IP6. The supplemental protocol will vary from person to person and will change periodically based on the laboratory tests. After years of testing, Dr. Belanger has determined which nutritional supplements work best at correcting each growth factor and immune parameter and what doses are most effective. He tests for every supplement he recommends so he can track its effect and determine if, for example, it is really increasing one’s natural killer cell activity. Dr. Belanger continues to monitor patients’ blood for growth factors and immune imbalances approximately every 3 months to make sure resistance isn’t developing to either the naturopathic and/or conventional therapies. In many instances, the labs may change before CT/PET or MRI ’s show increased growth. By checking the lab tests frequently, Dr. Belanger makes changes to his treatment plan to help prevent any radiological signs of a recurrence or tumor progression. First office visits and telephone consults with Dr. Belanger cost $230. If the visit runs over one hour, $57.50 will be added for each additional 15 minutes. For telephone consults, an additional 15 minutes may be added to account for time spent typing and e-mailing the treatment plan. Second visits and additional visits cost $115 If these visit(s) run over 30 minutes, $57.50 will be added for each additional 15 minutes. Costs are hard to predict and can vary from month to month and person to person. If there are multiple laboratory test abnormalities one may need more supplements than someone with a few imbalances. Nutritional supplements can range between $50.00 to $1000.00 a month. Blood work performed at RGCC laboratory are not covered by insurance and can range in cost from $500 to $3000.

Practitioner(s): James Belanger, graduated from Bastyr University Karen Braga , graduated from Bastyr University



Northampton Naturopathic Associates

www.northamptonnaturopathic.com

Most questionable advertised treatments:

Biotherapeutic drainage

is a philosophy and treatment framework that has been used for over 100 years. Within this framework, lifestyle elements, single homeopathic remedies, the Unda numbered compounds, plant based remedies and nutrients are all used to rid the body of accumulated toxicity.Toxicity, in conjunction with one’s habits and predispositions can be found at the root of most modern diseases. The goal of treatment with Biotherapeutic drainage is always to get the body to react, self-regulate, and return to normal, healthy physiologic functioning.

& bogus lab tests

IgG and IgE Allergy testing (Food and environmental allergens)

Salivary hormone testing

Thermography (preventative screening tool for breast health)

Neurotransmitter Testing

Practitioner(s): Chris Deszynski graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine Jon Ritz graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine . (Not pictured in screen grab.) His own webpage describes magical healing water as such:



Vitality is a word to describe the life force that flows through us and is carried by water. Re-vitalization is renewing water’s ability to store and deliver this life force energy. Amazing to ponder, eh? Water contains life force. Revitalized water has much more stored energy than bottled or tap water, sometimes on the order of 10,000x or more. Some revitalizers use the ionization process to add energy and to restructure the water. Through this process, revitalized water literally contains so many extra extra electrons that it can start lending them to antioxidants in the body and stop oxidation in its tracks. Scientists can measure this as the solution’s Oxidative Reduction Potential (ORP). Revitalized, ionized water has a highly negative ORP. In Japan, doctors call this water “negative water,” referring to its negative ORP, and prescribe it as therapy for many diseases of oxidative stress like heart disease and diabetes. http://drjonritz.com/water

New England Family Health Center

www.drbarrytaylor.com

Most questionable treatment advertised:

Electro-dermal screening

Due to our toxic polluted environment, the way we eat, heavy metal toxins and stressful lifestyles, our bodies get energetically out of balance. Electro Dermal Screening (EDS) is a state-of-the-art process that allows Dr. Taylor to assess the body’s energy balance and how it is impacting major organ function and overall wellness. A highly sensitive digital process, EDS provides immediate diagnostic results without the need for invasive and time consuming tests. Through EDS, Dr. Taylor can guide client’s on a variety of issues including: Allergies or sensitivities to foods or inhalants (dust, pollens, molds)

The negative impact of heavy metals, chemicals and other toxins to health

Nutrient imbalances (vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and amino acids)

The symptoms of acute, chronic and/or auto immune diseases

Relieving pain (migraines, arthritis, Fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal disorders)

Reducing inflammation (Colitis, IBS, ulcers and other digestive disorders)

Female Hormones: infertility, PMS, menopause, menstrual irregularities and breast health

Male Hormones: prostate health, erectile dysfunction

Skin irritations (psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, eczema )

Sexual intimacy and libido

Stress, depression and anxiety

Practitioner(s): Barry Taylor graduated from National College of Naturopathic Medicine



Conclusion

The above snapshots represent a small, non-random sample of naturopathic websites with practices in Massachusetts. I did a Google search using “Massachusetts naturopathic doctor.” I only included individuals who went to one of the seven naturopathic schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME).

Despite sampling issues, it is clear that naturopaths who aspire to be licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts advertise dangerous and wacky treatments for serious diseases. I suspect their clinical incompetencies are not always on public display.

Naturopaths claim they are trained to provide high-quality medical care given an alternative medical education that is not based on science, let alone reality, i.e., homeopathy and magic water. It is a fact that alternative cancer treatments lead to more deaths and lower quality of life, as further demonstrated by licensed naturopaths in Canada.

There is nothing beneficial about any of the highlighted treatments above. They are all extremely dubious and can be dangerous if used in lieu of medical care by a provider trained according to international standards of medical science, unlike naturopaths who are trained in far-fetched pseudoscience. Some might say that ND medical training is as dilute as the substances in homeopathic remedies.

Who actually thinks it is a good idea to take blood out of your veins, dissolve ozone gas into it, expose it to ultraviolet radiation, and return it back into your body? That sounds toxic to me, which must be why naturopaths also sell detoxification packages.

Please contact the members on the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health and tell them that all naturopaths endanger the public and should not be validated with licensure.

Image credits: Andrew Malone, some rights reserved. Other images taken as screenshots from their respective websites.