fears that, “If homeopathy is true, then everything about modern medicine and science is false.” But, he adds, “The homeopathy deniers ignore or downplay the substantial body of verifying evidence from basic sci- ence and clinical research—from outcome studies, cost-effective- ness studies and epidemiologi- cal evidence.”


Meditation and Related


Therapies The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that 90 percent of all doctor office visits are related to stress. Medita- tion, breath work, guided imagery and some yoga disciplines are effective ways to slow down the mind, relieve stress and bring body , mind and spirit into balance. More than 1,000 pub- lished studies have linked various types of meditation as well as contemplative yoga to changes in metabolism, blood pressure, brain activation, stress relief and pain reduction. Angela Wilson, assistant director


of the Institute for Extraordinary Living (IEL), affiliated with the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in Lenox, Massa- chusetts, reports burgeoning interest in these therapies. “Doctors have become very interested in any practice that can help people slow down and calm A 2007 NCCAM study found that 9.4 percent of U.S. adults, more than 20 million people, had practiced medita- tion in the previous year.


Some of the latest IEL research


provides scientific proof that Kripalu yoga (often called “meditation in motion”) can act as a buf- fer, “…helping people to face daily challenges without getting rocked off their feet or off their center,” says Wilson. She is also excited


about a recent Massachu- setts General Hospital study. It showed that in just eight weeks of practicing meditation, subjects experienced physiological chang- es in the part of the limbic system that relates to fear, re- sulting in less stress and anxiety.


Naturopathy Naturopathic medicine, a general system of natural medicine, includes nutrition, herbalism, homeopathy, acupuncture and energy medicine. Its goal is to holistically address the entire organism—body, mind and spirit. In general, naturopathic physicians


are those that work to support our in- nate healing abilities. They universally encourage adoption of lifestyle changes that promote optimal health. In states where naturopathic doc-


tors (ND) are licensed (which does not yet include New York), practitioners are required to graduate from a four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass a board examination. In states that do not license them, people that successfully complete online courses can call themselves a naturopath. Make sure that any consulting naturopathic


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saw them in Natural Awakenings. 22 Rockland & Orange Counties naturalawakeningsro.com


doctor has graduated from a residential program approved by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (Naturopathic.org). Carl Hangee-


Bauer, current president of the national association and a doctor of naturopathy with San Francisco Natural Medicine, has long been a proponent of licens- ing. He observes, “Currently, 16 states license naturopaths, and the trend is toward more licensing states and inclu- sion in federal programs, as well as loan forgiveness.” He believes this will bring more qualified students to the profession. Economics is among the many


incentives driving consumers to a greater awareness of the benefits of pursuing wellness, as they come to understand how major, long-term medical bills might be reduced by applying common sense, healthy lifestyle practices and other do- able steps toward preventing illness in the first place. “Our practice is growing every year. People are willing to pay for quality health care,” remarks Hangee-Bauer.


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