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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

RECORD NUMBER ATTEND 22ND ANNUAL CONVENTION

ANMA’s 22nd annual convention was an unprecedented  success!   America’s largest and most inclusive  based organization for naturopathic and natural health care practitioners, celebrated it’s 22nd anniversary in the entertainment capitol of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada.  Attendees came from all over the United States, and from all around the world.

As ANMA members know, we are a professional organization which is dedicated to inclusion and that too was clearly represented in Las Vegas. Natural Health Care Practitioners of all types enjoyed comradery and enlightenment.  Many schools and programs have chosen the ANMA’s annual convention to invite students, and graduates for annual reunions.

Our speakers reflected the multi-disciplinary and multinational feel of this outstanding event.  The lecture rooms were filled with intellectual stimulation and excitement as the audience absorbed up to date information presented by our distinguished guest speakers.  The doctors in attendance had their thirst for knowledge quenched by speakers who are leaders in their fields.  Continuing to offer high quality educational events is a goal of ANMA.  Competency testing is always available for those seeking quality certification in many categories. 

Each year the ANMA program covers many aspects of complimentary and alternative medicine.  The latest and most exciting research techniques, and therapies from around the world can always be found at the ANMA convention. The convention set-up pleases all, with merchants being located adjacent to the lecture hall.   This contributes to the friendly atmosphere found at the ANMA convention.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The Following ANMA Members & Supporters
Will Be Missed

Dr. James “Jim”  Critchlow, a personal friend, and supporter of ANMA passed away on August 8, 2003.  A resident of Arizona, and Navy veteran of World War II, Jim recently retired as President of Phyne Pharmaceutical, a company he devoted his life to .  A loyal friend, supporter and member of ANMA, Jim introduced many friends to ANMA through membership, attended all conventions, and made his services available whenever called upon.  He too, spoke positively of the many accomplishments and missions of ANMA.  Dr. Critchlow leaves his wife, Donna, a daughter Mimi, and several loved grandchildren.  Jim will be greatly missed.

Robert Murray Ricketts passed away on June 18th in Scottsdale, AZ of a sudden illness.  Dr. Ricketts graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry and then the University of Illinois Graduate School with a Masters Degree in Orthodontics.  Dr. Ricketts served as a Lieutenant, J.G. in the Navy Dental Corps from 1945-47.  He began his orthodontic practice in Pacific Palisades, CA in 1952.

Dr. Ricketts moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 1987 to devote his time to research, writing and lecturing.  He helped develop several contemporary mechanisms in equipment now used internationally in orthodontics and helped found Rocky Mountain Data Systems.  Dr. Ricketts founded the American Institute for Bioprogressive Education in 1981 and offered advanced orthodontic seminars.  He received many honors and award throughout his career.  Loma Linda University, CA dedicated a library in his name.  He continued to lecture internationally and publish until the time of his death.   In addition to his orthodontic career, Dr. ricketts helped formulate nutritional supplements that are distributed internationally.

Dr. Ricketts was an extraordinary man with a keen intellect and a great zest for like He made many lasting friends wherever he traveled.  He will be deeply missed by his family, friends at ANMA.

Dr. Larry Wilson, a personal friend and supporter of ANMA passed away on July 6, 2003.  Dr. Wilson practiced in both the State of Kansas, and State of Colorado, and at one time he was an instructor for the National College of Naturopathic Medicine.  A strong supporter of freedom of choice in natural health, Dr. Wilson was, in past years, very active in ANMA’s legislative efforts. Larry attended annual conventions, and made his services available whenever called upon.  Like so many outstanding members and supporters of ANMA, he believed in its many accomplishments, and goals.  Dr. Wilson leaves a wife, and will be greatly missed.

In Loving Memory

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

CANP Betrayed Itself & Real Natuopathy

Opinion By: Robert J Thiel, Ph.D., Naturopath

California has a worldwide reputation as being a bastion of the natural health movement.  Yet, an anti-naturopathic bill, SB 907, has passed the State Senate and Assembly (as of this writing it awaits final committee approval and the Governor’s signature).  Like many attacks on our freedoms these days, the outward approach being taken in California is that it is enhancing naturopathy while in fact they are betraying it.

How?  By licensing a group of ‘pseudo-naturopaths’ endorsed by the California Association of Naturopathic Physicians (CANP), negatively affecting real naturopathy, and calling it a ‘health freedom’ bill.  The plain teaching of the acknowledged American founder of naturopathy (Dr. Benedict Lust) that naturopaths are doctors minus drugs and surgery is being replaced by a bill that teaches that naturopaths cannot be doctors unless they graduated from schools that promote drugs and surgery.

The medical authorities in California had major reservations about SB 907, and were able to get the bill amended on June 26, 2003 (presumably behind closed doors as there was no hearing that date to the best of this writer’s knowledge) and on August 25, 2003.  For the first time, the California Medical Association (CMA) changed its position opposing naturopathic licensing—something that it wrote a few years back that it would not do.  It appears obvious from the amendments that the CMA did not suddenly wish to embrace the principles of natural health.   It looks like CMA wanted control.  Thus, its amendments, were written into that bill, and were acceptable to the CANP.

But CANP did so by betraying itself and real naturopathy. 

Twelve Compromises & Betrayals

In order to secure votes, the CANP (and/or its affiliates) had to do the following:

1) Raise and spend excessively large sums of money to win a battle against traditional naturopaths.  The Sacramento Bee reported, “And, as with all medical turf battles, whether SB 907 lives or dies has everything to do with politics and nothing to do with whether it enhances or imperils the health of Californians” (Walters, Dan. Naturopathic bill moves with push from movie tycoon. Sacramento Bee. June 30, 2003).  The Sacramento Bee reported that a billionaire even gave Bastyr University $1,000,000 to support its restrictive licensing efforts and the Los Angeles Times reported that that same individual also donated $325,000 to defend California Governor Davis from being recalled. Special interest money still, sadly, talks.

2) Negatively affect the thousands of traditional naturopathic doctors who did not study allopathic modalities.  SB 907 specifically prohibits individuals who did not graduate from CANP schools to practice as naturopathic doctors—there has never been such a specific anti-naturopathic law in California—nor has there ever been a specific board that will be able to investigate any who are suspected of violating this law. Many traditional naturopathic doctors have been practicing in California for decades and there is no ‘grandfathering’ provision for them (attempts to ask for ‘grandfathering’—allowing existing naturopathic doctors to continue to practice as they have been—were rebuffed).  SB 907 will also put them in the difficult position of having to disclose their education (in accordance with B&P 2053.6) yet not otherwise use the terms N.D. or naturopathic doctor, or similar titles (Article 6. 3660). 

3) Admit that its pre-2000 graduates were inadequately trained in non-naturopathic modalities.  They initially were required to prove additional training (SB 907, 17 b 6/26/03) to do them.

4) Submit to the supervision of medical doctors in the status of a nurse practitioner in order to prescribe drugs.  SB 907 originally referred to B&P 2836.1, which is the nurse practitioner statute.   Now it states that a naturopathic doctor must have a ‘supervising physician and surgeon’ to order drugs (Article 4. 3640.5 (a)).

5) Establish an advisory council, dominated by the medical profession, that cannot have any traditional naturopaths on it.  This will prevent real naturopathy from getting any foothold into affecting policy as the M.D./CANP council only allows public members who themselves (or their family members) have no “economic interest in naturopathy” (Article 2. 3625.(a)& (b)(2)). 

6) Ask the State to accept the ‘accreditation’ of the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). CNME is a questionable group that lost its status as a federally recognized accrediting agency on January 16, 2001 for practices that border on fraudulent (as shown at www.anma.com).  CNME has lost its ‘federal status’ twice, but always seems to be able to come up with enough money to try to regain it (as it is doing currently). 

7) Give up its desire to become true ‘primary care providers’.   SB 907 (refers to B&P code 2836, which is for, “categories of nurse practitioners and standards for nurses to hold   themselves out as nurse practitioners in each category”).  CANP has always wanted its members to be ‘primary care doctors’ and not nurses.  Although CANP supporters would argue that certain provisions of SB 907 are only temporary, this subservience can be prolonged.  Income tax was also supposed to be temporary.

8)  Lose the ability to use the term ‘naturopathic physician’.  Since the NP part of CANP stands for ‘naturopathic physicians’, the CANP has let the medical authorities know that it would give up the title that it most wants.  As part of its compromise with the CMA, CANP lost having minor surgery, such as suturing, in SB 907.  Instead it is given a promise that the medical authorities will, in the future, look at whether or not CANP naturopaths should be allowed to do any type of surgery.

9) Increase the budget problems in the State of California.  Assuming SB 907 becomes law, out-of-state graduates from CNME schools will pour into California to secure possible insurance reimbursement and to try to take jobs currently held by traditional naturopathic doctors. The insurance benefits of State employees paid for by the State of California will rise.  Due to the current financial state of affairs in the California budget, anything that adds additional strain needs stronger justification than SB 907 has.  The State of California simply does not have the money for this type of bill at this time; yet, if signed, California will have to either raise taxes or cut other State provided services in order to pay for SB 907.  There also will be regulatory costs associated with SB 907.

10) Betray the one CANP acknowledges as the founder of American naturopathy. SB 907 gives restricted prescription drugs rights.  It originally provided for limited surgery rights, but that was amended out (many CMA members were against it). Dr. Benedict Lust spent much of his life fighting for real naturopathy as there have always been pseudo-naturopaths who were against it.  Dr. Lust once told California naturopaths, “Remember: Naturopaths are Doctors – minus Materia Medica and Surgery”. With SB 907, traditional naturopaths will not be able to be doctors—and those who will be doctors will use the materia medica and hope to use surgery!  Decades ago, Dr. Lust further addressed a related naturopathic problem in California when he stated, “there was an element, which...were giving narcotics, prescribing liquors, performing major and minor operations...bringing ill repute on the proud and clean name of Naturopathy....If members of our Association insist on practicing medicine, either legally or illegally, why not join the AMA and be done with them” (Lust, B. A Report on Conditions in California. The Naturopath, May 1923, pp.250-251).  SB 907 may be the first step towards that type of naturopath to ultimately be able to do so.

11) To falsely argue that the debate between themselves and the traditional naturopaths was about standards as opposed to true naturopathy.  True naturopaths opposed SB 907 from the start, because they knew that many in the CANP wanted drugs and surgery.  True naturopaths believe what Benedict Lust, the founder of the American naturopathic movement, declared, “Naturopathy is not in   the practice of medicine or surgery...All the methods of a Naturopathy are natural methods, the agents of life such as food, air, sun, exercises, relaxation, sleep, the use of herbs” (Wendell P. Standardized Naturopathy: The Science and Art of Natural Healing, 1951).

12) Betray the natural health movement.  By accepting medical supervision over its prescription ability and by accepting combined pharmaceutical/medical input in determining the naturopathic formulary, CANP has betrayed the natural health movement.  This betrayal may ultimately give the medical profession control over various herbs.

SB 907 is not a ‘health freedom’ bill.  It is a wolf that some see in sheep’s clothing. 

Prior Betrayals

What many do not realize is that CANP/CNME affiliates betrayed the natural health movement years ago, but its propaganda machine has left most of its supporters unaware of them.  A few of these prior betrayals include:

1)   Attempting to get the rights to inject prescription substances such as narcotics in two states in 1999.

2)   Becoming acceptable to the American Dietetic Association (ADA). As its literature and public statements show, the ADA favors genetically modified foods, synthetic vitamins, food additives, irradiation of foods, and just about everything that real naturopaths oppose.

3)   Failing to take a stand against genetically modified foods, synthetic vitamins, etc.  Nor have they spoken out against international efforts, like CODEX, to restrict consumer access to dietary supplements. CANP/CNME and their affiliates have been basically singularly focused on their own licensure and have been loath to stand for real naturopathy—perhaps because it may offend potential supporters.  Of course, the fact that some doctor-oriented suppliers of synthetic vitamins and/or industrially processed mineral salt containing supplements have provided vast amounts of money to most, if not all, CNME schools may also be a factor.

4)      Encouraging the CNME to ‘accredit’ at least two schools through compromise.  It is a matter of public record that CNME had its federal status pulled twice.

5)   Teaching prescription drugs and surgery as acceptable modalities for naturopaths.  Since these modalities by definition are not naturopathic, they never should have been taught.  Yet all the CNME schools teach them.

Supporters of the natural health movement should not think for one minute that the CNME schools truly support real naturopathy.  It appears that ‘pseudo-naturopathy’ is their area.

Furthermore, this has always been a problem.  Back in 1948 it was reported that “After the miserable failure of the pseudo group to stop the Golden Jubilee…one would think that it would desist and admit its error and wrongs.  But no, it continues its viscous propaganda to mislead physicians everywhere, while at the same time its officers plead they want harmony and unification.  What  they want is Domination…Observe their efforts…We condemn the persistent efforts of those who know better to mislead the field” (Gehman JM. From the Office of the President: Pseudo-Group Once Again Misleading the Naturopathic Field. Official Bulletin ANA, January 25, 1948:7-8).   The ‘pseudo group’ referred to did not accept the standards established for the profession in 1947, which included the statement, “Naturopathy does not make use of synthetic or inorganic    vitamins or minerals or of drugs,    narcotics, surgery, serums, vaccines, anti-toxins, toxoid, injections or inoculations”. 

It is my understanding that the CNME schools teach their ‘naturopaths’ to use synthetic vitamins, inorganic minerals, drugs, narcotics, surgery, serums, vaccines, injections, and inoculations (they may also teach the other anti-naturopathic interventions as well).   This is why I feel that ‘pseudo naturopathy’ is what CNME has long been about.

What CANP Received for these Betrayals?

What does CANP really get for this betrayal of real naturopathy?  Crumbs and servitude. 

SB 907 gives CANP naturopaths the exclusive right to be licensed or use the terms N.D. or naturopathic doctor while it takes this title away from thousands of traditional practitioners—but it does so by basically considering them nurse practitioners with training in vitamins.  It may allow certain insurance reimbursements.  It also gives CANP members who submit to the supervision of medical doctors, some limited rights to prescribe drugs.  This shows that the California legislature apparently believes that the graduates of CNME schools are not qualified to work alone, nor are they qualified enough to be called naturopathic physicians.  How many millions of dollars were spent by CANP and its affiliates to get this absurd, anti-naturopathic, bill?

SB 907 puts CANP naturopaths under the domination of the medical establishment in order to give them a legal edge over real naturopaths.  CANP appears to fear competition from traditional naturopathic doctors more than it fears domination by the medical establishment. .  Why else would SB 907 make it a crime to be a REAL traditional naturopathic doctor?  CANP sold out itself and the natural health movement for crumbs. 

What REAL Naturopaths Got

Although SB 907 wants to prevent REAL naturopaths from using the terms “Dr., N.D., naturopathic doctor, doctor of naturopathic medicine, and similar titles”, it does not prevent our ability to continue to practice (though it makes the playing ground uneven).  Specifically, the following sections, which were in the bill as of August 25, 2003, are probably helpful to REAL naturopaths:

“3613. (e) “Naturopathy” means a noninvasive system of health practice that employs natural health modalities, substances, and education to promote health.”

“3643.5. (a) This chapter may not be construed to limit the practice of a person licensed, certified, or registered under any other provision of law relating to the healing arts when the person is engaged in his or her authorized and licensed practice. (b) This chapter may not be construed to limit an activity that does not require licensure or is otherwise allowed by law, including the practice of naturopathy, when performed consistent with Sections 2053.5 and 2053.6.”

“3644. This chapter does not prevent or restrict the practice, services, or activities of any of the following:

(a)  A person licensed, certified, or otherwise recognized in this state by any other law or regulation if that person is engaged in the profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed,    certified, or otherwise recognized.

(b)  A person employed by the federal government in the practice of naturopathic medicine while the person is engaged in the performance of duties prescribed by laws and regulations of the United States.

(c)  A person rendering aid to a family member or in an emergency, if no fee or other consideration for the service is charged, received, expected, or contemplated. 

(d)  A person who makes recommendations regarding or is engaged in the sale of food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs or other products of nature, the sale of which is not otherwise prohibited under state or federal law.

(e)  A person engaged in good faith in the practice of the religious tenets of any church or religious belief without using prescription drugs.

(f)  A person acting in good faith for religious reasons as a matter of conscience or based on a personal belief, while obtaining or providing information regarding health care and the use of any product described in subdivision (d).

(g)  A person who provides the following recommendations regarding the human body and its function: (1) Nonprescription products. (2) Natural elements such as air, heat, water, and light. (3) Class I or class II nonprescription, approved medical devices, as defined in Section 360c of Title 21 of the United States Code. (4) Vitamins, minerals, herbs, homeopathics, natural food products and their extracts, and nutritional supplements.

(h)  A person who is licensed in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia to practice naturopathic medicine if the person is incidentally called into this state for consultation with a naturopathic doctor.”

(I should add that those eligible under section (h) are apparently prohibited from having an office, seeing regular clients, etc. in another place in this bill).

“3645. (a) This chapter permits, and does not restrict the use of, the following titles by persons who are educated and trained as any of the following: (1) “Naturopath.” (2) “Naturopathic practitioner.”  (3) “Traditional naturopathic practitioner.” (b) This chapter permits, and does not restrict, the education of persons as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (a). Those persons are not required to be licensed under this chapter.”

I should add that there was a provision in SB 907 which would have provided medical doctors and pharmacists control of the ‘naturopathic formulary’ including vitamins and herbs, but it was removed when ANMA supporters protested.  I would also like to thank C.F.N.H.,  N.M.A.C., A.A.N.C. and C.N.A. for their work to try to get some decent provisions in this bill.

However, the bill warns us of things to come such as “the bill would make the violation of certain of its provisions a crime” (SB 907 preamble (3)). 

It also specifically warns us about our yellow page listings and advertisements:

“SEC. 4. Section 149 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 149. (a) If, upon investigation, an agency designated in subdivision (e) has probable cause to believe that a person is advertising in a telephone directory with respect to the offering or performance of services, without being properly licensed by or registered with the agency to offer or perform those services, the agency may issue a citation under Section 148 containing an order of correction that requires the violator to do both of the following: (1) Cease the unlawful advertising. (2) Notify the telephone company furnishing services to the violator to disconnect the telephone service furnished to any telephone number contained in the unlawful advertising. (b) This action is stayed if the person to whom a citation is issued under subdivision (a) notifies the agency in writing that he or she intends to contest the citation. The agency shall afford an opportunity for a hearing, as specified in Section 125.9. (c) If the person to whom a citation and order of correction is issued under subdivision (a) fails to comply with the order of correction after that order is final, the agency shall inform the Public Utilities Commission of the violation and the Public Utilities Commission shall require the telephone corporation furnishing services to that person to disconnect the telephone service furnished to any telephone number contained in the unlawful advertising. (d) The good faith compliance by a telephone corporation with an order of the Public Utilities Commission to terminate service issued pursuant to this section shall constitute a complete defense to any civil or  criminal action brought against the telephone corporation arising from the termination of service.”

I should probably add that my understanding of SB 907 supporters interpretation of California B&P code 2054 indicates that they will challenge us for what we put on our business cards, signs, brochures, advertisements, and web sites (such as the terms ‘doctor’, ‘Dr.’., ‘N.D.’, ‘N.M.D.’, etc.).   However, neither statute specifically mentions the initials N.H.D., when it stands for having received a Doctorate in Natural Health.

Conclusion

Dr. Benedict Lust taught, “Remember Naturopaths are Doctors – minus Materia Medica and Surgery”.  Yet SB 907 says that naturopaths cannot be doctors unless they graduated from schools, which promote drugs and surgery.  All supporters of natural health should be up in arms about this.

True supporters of the natural health movement do not make deals with organizations that historically have opposed the positions of natural health proponents.  How can any true believer accept that organizations of medical doctors, pharmacists, and registered dietitians (Bastyr has a registered dietetics program) should help control/define naturopathy?  True believers in real naturopathy cannot support SB 907 as SB 907 is a betrayal.  A double-edged betrayal in that it does not give CANP what it really says it wants (plus it puts them under medical domination) and while also betraying REAL naturopathy.

Remember Americans were once warned, “Unless we put medical    freedom into the Constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship…To restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privileges to others will constitute the Bastille of medical    science.  All such laws are un-American and despotic and have not place in a republic…The Constitution of this republic should make special privilege for medical freedom as well as religious freedom”—Benjamin Rush, M.D., signer of the Declaration of Independence and physician to George Washington (from The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush).

ANMA Members,

As you may already know, ANMA began offering embroidered polo shirts earlier last year.  What you probably don’t know is that we now offer the polo shirts in three different colors (White, Black, & Navy Blue).  The navy polo shirts have the exact the same quality has the original white polos with the metal buttons.  The original white polo shirts, as I’ve said before look absolutely beautiful, and now you can add another color to your selection.  I promise you will be very pleased with these polo shirts.  ANMA offers nothing but the best quality to its valued members.

I guarantee that every order will be processed and mailed as quickly as possible.  All shirts will be shipped Priority Mail to ensure speedy delivery.  ANMA can offer these polo shirts to members for only $26.00 plus shipping and handling.  The sizes we have range from small to triple extra large. If you would like a 2xl or 3xl, please add $1.00 and $2.00 respectively. 

In addition, ANMA now has black tote bags with our logo embroidered on the side.  The tote bags cost $15.00 and shipping is provided free of charge (tote bags only).

Nutritionists and knowledgeable food experts are aware that most food used in this country is a disaster.  Some people call our bread wallpaper paste fluffed up to resemble the real McCoy.  Others say the phony concoction has the consistency of old newspapers with an aroma “resembling nothingness.”   The general consensus is direct and final, the commercial loaf of bread is described as being tasteless and bland.  Additionally it withholds from the unsuspecting masses the so urgently required food essentials, without which the health status of the entire nation and world becomes imperiled.  This is particularly the case among the poor who are unable to purchase the “protective” foods for compensation as advised by governmental agencies or processors.  For this reason we are far from being the world’s healthiest people.  We are, to a frightening degree, subject to the onslaught of chronic metabolic disorders.  Here we see the cornerstone of a great nutritional tragedy.

In scanning through the history of grain products we find that the present state of affairs was caused by preconceived ideas from the public as well as greed by processors.  In the ancient countries Egypt, Greece, Rome and others, the bread was made out of whole wheat. In other parts of Europe, rye was largely used with some mixtures of barley and other grains.  In Europe, a small amount of wheat bread was available also, but usually reserved for the wealthy class.  White bread was nonexistent, the grains were coarsely ground, and chemical bleaching agents were unknown.

Around two hundred fifty years ago in 1760, the French miller Malliset designed the first important improvement of the ancient stone mill.  Instead of one, there were three successive grindings between millstones held at varying distances apart.  The new process made the appearance of white bread possible.  Since only twenty percent of the bran content was removed, the finished product still contained some nutritional value.  At the turn of century, certain technological innovations in the milling process evolved.

The use of red separators equipped with silk halting cloth made it now possible to more efficiently remove the outer covering from the ground grains.  The resulting flour became lighter in color and the status symbol “white is better!!!” became more deeply entrenched among the masses.

There were other improvements by the millers.  Through an air current, the flour became separated from the bran.  It was now possible to mill-spring wheat.  Minneapolis, center of the spring wheat area, evolved as the leading flour milling center of the United States.

In 1830, the Polish promoter Mueller marked on another new milling process, which was later improved by the Swiss engineer Salzburger.

In Hungary the new invention was quickly adopted.  Their white flour soon captured the world market.  In 1873, during the Vienna World Fair, the visitors, including Americans, admired the Glistening white rolls.  Shortly thereafter, Hungarian engineers were imported to construct roller mills throughout the state of Minnesota.  The new refining equipment was steam powered and with its tremendous speed and output created mechanical perfection in the devitalization and impoverishment of the flour.  The entire outer covering, which is 35 to 40 percent of the grain, gets removed.  The “offals” are used for the manufacture of vitamins as well as stock feed.  Nutritionally, the thoroughly refined product is drastically inferior to the whole-wheat flour produced by the old stone mill.  The protein content is much reduced, particularly being deficient in the amino acid lysine, a tryptophane essential to growth.

As to vitamins, the losses are very impressive.  As an example, with the daily consumption of whole wheat bread we would obtain 1,200 units of natural vitamin B, while the refined loaf assures us only 200 units.  As to other vitamins, a corresponding loss is suffered with vitamin E, which is considered even more important to our well being.  The losses also extend to proteins, as formerly mentioned, and to minerals. In studies done by the University of California, the College of Agriculture, it was found that the refining process removes from fifty to as much as ninety-eight percent of all protective substances from the grains.  This is the verdict reached by reliable scientific circles after a typical evaluation of our food substances.

Dr. Norman Jolliffe of the New York City Department of Health, wrote that people, particularly those spending less than a few dollars per week for food, “subsist on a vitamin borderline.”

In 1912 Sir Frederick Hopkins, Cambridge professor of physiological chemistry and Nobel Prize Winner stated: “all my work to date confirms my belief in the superior food value of standard whole wheat bread after proving that young animals grow with greater rapidity on stone ground whole wheat flour than on white flour.”  These experiments by Hopkins were somewhat similar to those made by Grijns, the Dutch colonial health Administrator in Java; he found that polished rice had been the cause of beriberi.

In a more demonstrable display, the German raider Kron Prince Wilhelm was involved.  The ships limped into Newport seeking help, not from the Guns of pursuing warships, but from a mysterious disorder that had attacked the crew.  They were suffering from beriberi.  Their legs were paralyzed and swollen, their hearts were dilated, they had acute anemia and so on.  In this case they had not been eating polished rice but the typical fare of America workers, white bread, canned meat and canned vegetables.  The enterprising newspaper reporter, McCanu, prescribed whole wheat bread and large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables.  With great rapidity the sick sailors became well.

With monotonous repetitions the Japanese navy had corrected similar deficiencies by instituting similar dietary reforms.

Among Arctic and Antarctic explores, beriberi and scurvy were evident.  Amundsen and Mac Millan were exceptions, they kept themselves fit by consuming whole wheat and oatmeal biscuits, plus dehydrated vegetables.

In 1916 United States Public Health Service issued a warning in relation to deficiency diseases in the South.  In their bulletin it was declared that animals which were fed a highly milled wheat and corn diet showed signs of deficiencies within a month or two, in contrast to those that were fed exclusively unmilled wheat and corn.

Herbert Hoover’s Food Administration was unable to force the millers and bakers to a less drastic degree of refinement.  Promptly, the life extension institute distinctly declared: Destruction of food is an injury to our country, as positively as is destruction of munitions or arms; and the commonest and most inexcusable   destruction of food is the milling of wheat.

Dr. Charles E. Banks, senior surgeon of U.S. Public Health   Service, became angered beyond endurance; in a fiery statement the doctor declared the end result of the devitalization of flour as “what is the matter with the American people today!! Physically forty inches around the waist at the age of forty, an inch for every year, a puff for each eye and a hag for each cheek.” To this the miller objected vigorously.

The officials at the Public Health Service were on sound scientific ground.  But by this time the problem lost its scientific implication, it suddenly had changed to pressure politics.  They changed the meaning of their former verdict by explaining that white bread was wholesome if balanced in the diet by an adequate consumption of protective foods such as dairy products, fruits, and vegetables.

Up to now, our concern has been the milling of the grains that go into our daily loaf of bread.  But now we are getting involved with bakers who were looking for a shortcut in the aging of flour, which has also been purported to improve it.  Through the use of various kinds of bleaching agents, the bakers discovered that this could be accomplished with much less effort.  In addition, the chemicals were keeping the flour sterile and preventing it from weevils or from becoming moldy.  Bleaching chemicals were also used to substitute inferior flours for high grade ones.  During the time of Dr. Wiley, there had been a strong opposition to the use of bleaching flour.  This was because objectionable substances without any food values were added to the flour for the purpose of concealing inferiority.  Flour bleach known as agene (nitrogen trichloride) was introduced for bread making without adequate testing.  It was used for about thirty years in the United States and England.  During this time it was noticed that in the Southern United States dogs became disinterested, frightened, unfriendly and had dry mouths.  Finally they frothed at the mouth, had epileptic fits and collapsed.  It was found that agene was the cause for running fits in the dogs.

The animals’ central nervous system became primarily affected. When tested by Sloan-Kettering Institute in 1949, agene showed that it caused psychosis in patients.  There were hallucinations and disorientation for several days after the administration of agene.

But this did not deter the milling industry from the use of destructive bleaching or aging processes, which was termed by Chicago University’s Dr. Anton Carlson as “biological stupidity.”   There were other noxious chemicals available for these purposes; among the substituted poisons, chlorine dioxide is most widely used.

In living up to its lethal side effects, the chemical destroys the remaining vitamin E in the flour, which may have escaped the milling process.  Dr. Bicknell remarked that by adding it to this graveyard of nutrients, the millers have achieved flour as nearly non-nutritious as possible and insidiously corrupting to the body as food can be.

In 1954 the reporter of the German weekly magazine Stern visited Dr. Otto Warburg, Nobel Prize laureate in medicine.  The reporter found the doctor in his laboratory grinding his own flour in a small hand operated mill.  The reporter learned that Warburg and his associates made their own flour and their own bread.  He asked Dr. Warburg why?  Dr. Warburg explained: “most of the vitamins essential for life as well as important protein building blocks, such as methionine, are all destroyed.”

There are no label requirements in the United States Standards for bromated flour, which is widely used in commercial bread.  Constantly using these substances is dangerous.

In Germany the death rate had dropped, after stopping the use of all bleaching agents in flour.  There was also a marked decline in pelvic disorders, diabetes, heart involvement, kidney trouble, high blood pressure and cancer.  There were no other changes in diet or living patterns.

In big cities it is possible to get a wholesome slice of bread from health food stores or supermarkets, but in small towns it is a gloomy situation.  Some clerks assure that they have never heard of whole bread before.  In the larger markets, a darker loaf of bread caring the label “whole wheat” might be seen occasionally.  Remember, this pertains to the whole wheat bread with flour manufactured by the refiners.

This is usually the type of bread served in eating establishments, if a whole-wheat variety is requested.  How good is such a product?!!!…

Unfortunately, the answer is negative.  Whole wheat bread steel rolled is not real whole wheat bread.  Whole wheat bread organically grown and stone-ground, without added bleaching agents and undergoing the agene process, is ok.

It is interesting to note that usually only one chemical additive is mentioned such as a mold retardant (cal, or sodium propionate).  It would be shocking for the public to know that not only a single one but as many as sixty chemicals may be present in a loaf of bread without label declaration.

The Council on Food and Nutrition first suggested the enrichment of white flour by addition of synthetic vitamins in 1936.  Two years later the food enrichment principle was endorsed.  Specifically synthetic B vitamins, as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin and one mineral, iron.  Soon thereafter, calcium and vitamin D were added to the list.

There exist sharp differences between synthetic and natural food components.  Even if the three vitamins were living up to their purported functions, what about the other factors acknowledged to be vital to human physiology?  Where were the vitamin E replacement, biotin, pyridoxine and pantothenic acid and minerals such as copper, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, etc.?  How was the lack of amino acids, such as tryptophane and lysine compensated?

Regarding the inclusion of iron, other questions become apparent.  In the case of ferrous sulphate, it was shown that it greatly increased the need for oxygen and pantothenic acid.  But most importantly, iron harms unsaturated fatty acids as well as destroys vitamin A, C and E.  During illness when little food is eaten and protein intake is low, iron compounds can cause serious liver damage.  Iron salts taken during pregnancy can bring about miscarriages or premature or delayed births since the need for oxygen, which is already under supplied to the fetus, increases.  It may also cause anemia and jaundice.  This impressive information was gathered from one of Adelle Davis’s books, authenticated with footnotes.

Still valid today is the old biological dictum that if only one member of the interlocking nutritional components is absent, the remaining group cannot function at optimum levels.

Anyone who is truly objective knows that knowledge comes from books, instructors, experience and now the electronic media.  Other than reading hieroglyphics, what knowledge has come from walls?

Nonresident Accreditation Bias

It is amazing how little most Americans know about college and higher education in general.  It is appalling to find that most college graduates don’t seem to fully understand the process of higher education beyond that of their own experience.  Most Americans think that a real college education can only be had by sitting in uncomfortable chairs listening to often boring instructors who do little else than tell you to go home and read the following or write the following or go to the library and do the following research.  Do you really need to be in a classroom to be told to do school work, the majority of which will invariably be done outside of the classroom?  I hear academic snobs as well as the academically impoverished using such diminutive phrases as correspondence schools or mail order degrees.  Diploma mills do exist, but if you think that all nonresident programs are diploma mills you are sadly mistaken.

Can More Than 100 Universities Be Wrong?

I am compelled to point out that there are more than 100 regionally accredited colleges and universities offering accredited nonresident course work.  Many of these schools offer accredited nonresident degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  Colleges that have withstood the scrutiny of independent review and met the highest standards from regional accreditation obviously have no problem with the concept of nonresident education.  The people who run the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) created, and dominated by the AANP, simply wants to insure that no schools except the ones they control and profit from can be accredited.  This prevents Americans interested in pursuing Naturopathy as a profession from choosing other schools and insures that all money spent on Naturopathic education goes into the pockets of AANP alumni.

Motivation And Discipline

I have completed both undergraduate and graduate degree    programs at full regionally accredited universities in residence.  I have also completed short resident and nonresident programs.  I would be less than honest if I said all of one type was good and all of another type was bad.  While in a resident program you are in most cases nagged by the instructor to complete your homework.  If you are in a nonresident program, you must be strong, goal oriented and motivated.  You have to be a mature adult because you are your only regulator.  All the programs I experienced had mentors available to answer questions and give guidance where the text material seemed unclear, but the attention was one on one as opposed to competing with 40 other students for the instructor’s time.  All the exams were proctored, so there could be no cheating on them, just the same as in a classroom.  If a nonresident program is designed properly then there is no reason for it not to be just as rewarding and enlightening as any classroom experience.

There is of course the attitude that says, I suffered in a classroom so you must too!  Well, that sounds like a behavioral problem to me.  The other motivation of course is control.  That is the aim of the AANP plain and simple.  They tell everyone that the only quality education is from their schools and they encourage everyone to believe that all nonresident training is no good.  They would be hard pressed to convince the more than 100 regionally accredited colleges and universities who offer nonresident education that this is true.  One of my alma maters is the University of Michigan (UM), a school consistently rated in the top 5 of American colleges and universities every year.  The last I checked UM was rated number three in the nation behind Princeton #1 and Harvard #2.  I completed my post graduate studies at UM in the class room, but surely no one can say that UM is a diploma mill because they offer nonresident training as well.  UM standards for entrance and graduation are among the highest in the nation, why don’t they look down on nonresident schools?  The answer is simple, their main interest is education not control.  By the way, even though the AANP continually states that their three alumni schools are equivalent to Harvard or Johns Hopkins it should be noted that the AANP’s schools are not even rated in the top 400.

I have six degrees from three accredited colleges and I have completed a number of nonresident programs as well.  I have more than twenty years of nearly continuous study so, I think I’m in a better position than most to give an opinion on nonresident study as compared to traditional study.  With the exception of those courses that absolutely require hands on training such as lab courses, and minor surgery, there is nothing in Naturopathy that cannot be learned through nonresident training.

As for the assertion that Naturopaths should be doing obstetrics and surgery, well, my opinion has always been that those are allopathic procedures not Naturopathic.  Just as the Osteopaths decided to train in those allopathic areas, if a Naturopath chooses to train in invasive, synthetic or other allopathic procedures then that is their choice, but don’t call it Naturopathy.

The views and opinions expressed in this online newsletter are not necessarily those of the American Naturopathic Medical Association, its officers or its members, nor are they necessarily in accordance or agreement with its policies.