Dr. Kristen McElveen, ND travelled to Washington, DC in May to attend the American Association of Naturopathic Physician's Annual Federal Legislative Initiative. There she met personally with Senator Susan Collins and discussed how licensed Naturopathic Doctors can fill the gap in the primary care provider crisis currently found in our health care system. Dr. McElveen was joined by two Naturopathic students from Maine, who plan to return to Maine to practice after graduation. We thank Dr. McElveen for taking time away from her busy practice to do this important legislative work!
Naturopathic doctors believe that to educating patients about how to stay healthy is fundamental. We teach patients about optimal nutrition and how to choose the healthiest foods. One resource commonly used is the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen. These are two lists of the best produce to buy organically, due to high pesticide levels, and which produce can be purchased conventionally grown. This information is collected by The Environmental Working Group. Click here for your free wallet-sized shopping guide: http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
Dirty Dozen (highest in pesticides, buy organic)
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
Nectarines
Bell Peppers
Spinach
Cherries
Kale/Collard Greens
Potatoes
Grapes (imported)
Clean Fifteen (lowest in pesticides, buy conventional)
I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming annual conference entitled: Naturopathic and Chinese Management of Chronic Conditions. We have an impressive group of speakers this year, covering topics from immune boosting mushrooms to management of metabolic syndrome. I hope you have already registered and will be joining us! If you have questions regarding the conference, please contact our conference coordinator Barbara MacDonald. I will see you there.
Thanks,
Sarah Kotzur, ND
President, Maine Association of Naturopathic Doctors
WHEREAS the American Association of Naturopathic Doctors (AANP) is a strong proponent of preventive medicine and of the protection of children and adults from the serious consequences of infectious disease;
WHEREAS naturopathic doctors, as primary care providers, are morally obliged and legally mandated to uphold and carry out the public health laws and should be authorized to administer vaccinations in all jurisdictions where naturopathic licensure is available;
WHEREAS all doctors are ethically obliged to give parents accurate and current information on both the benefits and risks of childhood vaccinations, i.e., parental “informed consent,” such as required by the public health clinics of the United States Public Health Service; and,
WHEREAS it is well documented that some of the current childhood vaccinations have been associated with significant morbidity and are of variable efficacy and necessity.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that it is the position of the AANP that: Safer, more effective vaccinations should be developed, and more research should be conducted on possible short-term and long-term adverse effects of vaccines currently in use. All doctors should be attentive to the proper use of vaccines, avoid their administration to individuals with conditions that contraindicate their use, and accurately chart the vaccination, including parental refusal for any vaccines and any adverse effects.
Concerned parents need more than reminders to get children vaccinated. According to peer-reviewed studies, the "regular" flu vaccine has no effect on the new H1N1 virus (CDC and Australian Pandemic report, Aug. 2009). If the new swine flu vaccine conforms to the regular models, it will only provide 6 percent to 15 percent protection against the flu (Cochrane compilation of all studies).
Vaccination is a subject that provokes heated debate regarding efficacy, necessity, societal obligation, safety and reliability. The debate over vaccination tends to be steeped in rhetoric, dogma and exaggeration. It is undeniable that vaccination can help prevent potentially life threatening illnesses. On the other hand, many serious side-effects have been linked to the process of vaccination.
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The Importance of Organic Food:
