‘We are not quacks

CLAIMS by some Australian doctors that universities should stop teaching "nonsense" alternative medicine courses have angered a Byron Bay naturopath.
Michelle Lowe said she had studied the Complementary Natural Medicine course at Southern Cross University for four years.
"It's a very demanding course where we actually study pre-medical science and clinical diagnosis," she said.
"We are certainly not quacks as some of these doctors have claimed."
The Friends of Science in Medicine last week claimed that universities had been trashing their reputations by teaching "quackery" and pseudoscience.
The Australian group has written to university vice-chancellors saying they should back evidence-based science rather than give "undeserved credibility to what in many cases would be better described as quackery".
One of the group's founders, Professor John Dwyer, said 19 universities across the country were offering "degrees in pseudoscience".
"It's deplorable, but we didn't realise how much concern there was out there for universities' reputations until we tapped into it," Prof Dwyer said.
Michelle said she totally disagreed with the group's claims.
"There is an increasing demand for natural remedies, as well as advice on diet and lifestyle.
"Practitioners in our industry are all about preventative medicine as well as treating the symptoms with herbs that have been around for thousands of years.
"Herbal remedies do work - there have been clinical trials to back that up."
Michelle said naturopaths provided a viable alternative to doctors.
Head of SCU's School of Health and Human Sciences Iain Graham said he welcomed any scrutiny of educational practices.
"Eighty per cent of Australians seek alternative therapies," Professor Graham said.
"Many alternative approaches to health have been around longer than conventional medicine.
"Overseas, there is a broader view of these types of treatments and they are well accepted, particularly in many European countries."
SCU offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Clinical Sciences and as part of completing that degree, students can choose to study naturopathy and osteopathy.
Prof Graham said the uni aimed to produce capable and creative practitioners.
Michelle Lowe
Complementary Natural Medicine student
Herbal remedies do work - there have been clinical trials to back that up.
Source:Bryon Shire News