Alberta’s health minister is facing backlash after attending a conference focused on the role of naturopaths in primary care in the province.
Adriana LaGrange posted a photo to social media this week of her and Rob Ross, president of the Alberta Naturopathic Doctors Association.
Medical experts are baffled by the meeting.
“Naturopathic doctors have no place in primary care,” said Timothy Caulfield, a professor of public health at the University of Alberta.
“We can’t solve the problems in our health care system by embracing alternative medicines and unproven treatments. We need hard evidence to light the way forward.”
Caulfield, who has studied the medical profession extensively, doesn’t think the treatment should be publicly funded, but he has concerns.
Alberta’s premier has previously said the province needs more room in its system for alternative medicine.
“We were just discussing the role of naturopathic physicians in Alberta,” LaGrange said, “and (Ross) was highlighting all the great work they’re doing. And that was the only conversation.”
“We’re not advertising anything.”
Naturopaths see patients seeking health-related help and usually advise them to use drug-free, “natural” methods.
The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Physicians says the treatment aims to stimulate the body’s own healing powers to combat the underlying causes of illness.
Treatments may include dietary and lifestyle advice, botanical therapy, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Caulfield argues that these strategies have “no scientific basis.”
“This is an exercise in pseudoscience and vitalism, that nature will heal,” he told CTV News.
“Throughout almost its history, the practice has embraced unproven treatments. Even today, naturopaths offer homeopathy (scientifically unfounded), ozone therapy, and detoxification.”
“It’s really rooted in pseudoscience.”
Ross disagrees.
“(The meeting) was just about patients being able to add things to their care if they want to,” he said, “and it’s about understanding that different people have different values about how they want to address their health.”
Ross said the university approached LaGrange about the meeting as a way to “complement” primary care as AHS is restructured.
“Can we work together to close some of the gaps that currently exist,” he said. “I think the government recognises there are serious problems to solve and they certainly have the boldness and the courage and the innovative strategies to solve them.”
There are more than 300 naturopathic doctors working in Alberta. The profession is self-regulated and consultations are not covered by public health insurance.
“It’s a legitimate profession, with solid training behind it,” Ross said.
