Document Detail


Detoxification in Naturopathic Medicine: A Survey.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22103982     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Abstract Objectives: This study sought to assess the use of clinical detoxification therapies used by licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs) in the United States. Design: This was a qualitative, descriptive, online survey of a convenience sample of NDs. Methods: An online survey was conducted of NDs who were licensed in the United States. Responses were analyzed descriptively regarding the use of clinical detoxification therapies. Respondents were recruited from a membership list provided by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and from alumni e-mail lists of Council of Naturopathic Medical Education accredited naturopathic medical schools. Results: Surveys were sent out to 1442 e-mail addresses (261 were returned to sender); a total of 196 respondents completed the survey (16.6%). Ninety-two percent (92%) of respondents reported using clinical detoxification therapies. Over 75% of respondents utilized detoxification therapies primarily to treat patients for environmental exposures, general cleansing/preventive medicine, gastrointestinal disorders, and autoimmune disease. Regarding methods used, >75% reported using dietary measures, reducing environmental exposures, and using botanicals as detoxification therapies. Eighty-three percent (83%) of NDs surveyed reported using follow-up measurements to determine efficacy of detoxification therapies. The most common were patient symptom questionnaires (66%), patient medical histories (54%), and urinary provocative challenge testing (53%). Conclusions: The majority of NDs responding to this survey reported routine use of clinical detoxification therapies to treat a range of medical conditions utilizing multiple therapeutic approaches. Although the majority of NDs reported using some follow-up measurements after detoxification therapy, few of these are an objective means to determine treatment efficacy. Further research is needed in the field of complementary and alternative medicine clinical detoxification to determine the safety and efficacy of these approaches.
Authors:
Jason Allen; Melissa Montalto; Jennifer Lovejoy; Wendy Weber
Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-11-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1557-7708     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-11-22     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9508124     Medline TA:  J Altern Complement Med     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
1 Bastyr University Research Institute , Seattle, WA.
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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