naturopathic research articles
The British Naturopathic Association is on the frontline of integrative, complementary and alternative medicine research for integrative healthcare practitioners, students, faculty, and anyone interested in the field of naturopathic medicine.
Although naturopathy is a traditional practice, it has been the subject of rigorous peer-reviewed research. In some countries, naturopaths have the right to practice medicine, and are able to directly treat patients for conditions like diabetes and cancer, and can prescribe essential medicine for conditions such as low thyroid function and hypertension in addition to natural products. The fact that naturopathy is eclectic and personalised to the individual makes it unsuited to typical blinded clinical trials, which are designed for either a specific drug or a placebo to be given to patients and the response is measured. Therefore a body of evidence is required to show an overall effectiveness of naturopathic treatment, and the ways it is measured uses different types of study.
This web page is a collection of published studies on how naturopathy or naturopathic medicine treatment has been effective either as an adjunct to allopathic medicine or as a standalone treatment, and is a work in progress.
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Muscular system
·“Homeopathy in the treatment of fibromyalgia - a comprehensive literature-review and meta-analysis.”Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 22(4): 731-742. Boehm K, Raak C, Cramer H, Lauche R., andOstermann T. (2014)
· “Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews.”The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.4(4): CD011279. Geneen, L. J., Moore, R. A., Clarke, C., Martin, D., Colvin, L. A., and Smith, B. H. (2017).
· “Is there role for vitamin D in the treatment of chronic pain?”Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease.9(6): 131–135. Martin, K. R., & Reid, D. M.
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Digestive System
- Salmond, S., J. George, S. Strasser, K. Byth, B. Rawlinson, T. Mori, K.
Croft, L. Adams and R. Batey (2018). “Hep573 Study: A randomised, double-blind,placebocontrolled trial of silymarin alone and combined with antioxidants toimproveliver function and quality of life in people with chronic hepatitis C.”
Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine 30(1): 12-25. - Kennedy, Deborah A. Elaine Lewis, Kieran Cooley, and Heidi Fritz. “An Exploratory Comparative Investigation of Food Allergy/Sensitivity Testing in IBS (The FASTStudy):A comparison between various laboratory methods and an eliminationdiet.”
Advances in Integrative Medicine. 1.3 (2014): 124-130. (Canada, CCNM) - Aucoin, Monique,
Marie-Jasmine Lalonde-Parsi, and Kieran Cooley. “Mindfulness-based Therapies in theTreatment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: aMeta-Analysis.”
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
2014.3 (2014): 1-11. (Canada, CCNM)
- Salmond, S., J. George, S. Strasser, K. Byth, B. Rawlinson, T. Mori, K.
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Nervous system
- Firth, J., S. Rosenbaum, P. B. Ward, J. Curtis, S. B. Teasdale, A. R. Yung and J. Sarris (2018). “Adjunctive nutrients in first‐episode psychosis:Asystematic review of efficacy, tolerability and neurobiological mechanisms.”
Early intervention in psychiatry. - Sarris, J. (2018). “Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatricdisorders: 10‐year updated review.” Phytotherapy Research.
- Prousky, Jonathan E. “ExistentialOppression Faced by Individuals Having psychosis and Schizophrenia.” Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry. 16.2 (2014): 91-98. (Canada, CCNM)
- Cooley, K., O. Szczurko, D. Perri, E. J. Mills, B. Bernhardt, Q. Zhou and D. Seely (2009). “Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomizedcontrolledtrial ISRCTN78958974.” PLoS One 4(8): e6628.
- Sarris Jerome, Kavanagh David J, Byrne Gerard.
“Adjuvant use of nutritional and herbal medicines with antidepressants, mood stabilizers andbenzodiazepines.” Journal of Psychiatric Research. 44.1 (2010): 32-41. (Australia) - Sarris Jerome, Kavanagh David J, Bone KM, Adams J, Byrne G, Deed G.
“The Kava AnxietyDepression Spectrum Study (KADSS): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Cross-over Trial using an Aqueous Extract of Piper methysticum.” Psychopharmacology.
205.3 (2009): 399-407. (Australia) - Sarris Jerome, Kavanagh David J, Deed Gary, Bone Kerry M. “St. John’s wort and Kava intreating major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety: a randomiseddouble-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial.” Human Psychopharmacology. (2009) 24.1: 41-48.
- Sarris Jerome, Schoendorfer Niikee, Kavanagh David J. “Major depressive disorderand nutritional medicine: a review of monotherapies and adjuvant treatments.” Nutrition Reviews. (2009) 67 (3): 125-131
- Sarris J. “Herbal Medicines in the Treatment ofPsychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review” Phytotherapy Review, June 2007. (Australia)
- Firth, J., S. Rosenbaum, P. B. Ward, J. Curtis, S. B. Teasdale, A. R. Yung and J. Sarris (2018). “Adjunctive nutrients in first‐episode psychosis:Asystematic review of efficacy, tolerability and neurobiological mechanisms.”
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Integumentary system
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Skeletal system
· “Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial”. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 34(3): 379‐386. Perlman A, Fogerite
SG, Glass O, et al. (2019).
· “Alternative and complementary therapies in osteoarthritis and cartilage repair”. Aging – Clinical and Experimental Research. 32(4): 547‐560. Fuggle NR, Cooper C, Oreffo ROC, et al. (2020).“
· “Effect of daily vitamin B-12 and folic acid supplementation on fracture incidence in elderly individuals with an elevated plasma homocysteine concentration: B-PROOF, a randomized controlled trial.”American Journalof Clinical Nutrition. 100(6):1578‐1586. vanWijngaarden JP, Swart KM, Enneman AW, et al. (2014).“ -
Circulatory system
- Herman, Patricia, Orest Szczurko, Kieran Cooley, and Dugald Seely. “A NaturopathicApproach to the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:Cost-EffectivenessAnalysis of a Pragmatic Multi-Worksite Randomized Clinical Trial.” Journal ofOccupational and Environmental Medicine.
56.2 (2014): 171-6. (Canada,USA) - Salmaan, Kanki, Dugald Seely, Fatemeh Yazdi, Jennifer Tetzlaff, Kavita Singh, Alexander Tsertsvadze, Andrea C. Tricco, Margaret E. Sears, Teik C. Ooi, Michelle A. Turek, Becky Skidmore, and Mohammed T. Ansari. “Interactions ofCommonly Used Dietary Supplements with Cardiovascular Drugs: A Systematic Review.” Systematic Reviews. 1.26 (2012). (Canada)
- Herman, Patricia, Orest Szczurko, Kieran Cooley, and Dugald Seely. “A NaturopathicApproach to the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:Cost-EffectivenessAnalysis of a Pragmatic Multi-Worksite Randomized Clinical Trial.” Journal ofOccupational and Environmental Medicine.
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Respiratory system
- Fritz, Heidi, Deborah A. Kennedy, Mami Ishii, Dean Fergusson, Rochelle Fernandes, Kieran Cooley, and Dugald Seely. “Polysaccharide Kand Coriolus Versicolor Extracts for Lung Cancer.” Integrative Cancer Therapies. 14.3 (2015): 201-211. (Canada)
- Fritz, Heidi, Dugald Seely, Deborah A. Kennedy, Rochelle Fernandes, Kieran Cooley, and Dean Fergusson. “Green Tea and LungCancer: a Systematic Review.” Integrative Cancer Therapies.
12.1 (2013): 7-24. (Canada) - Fritz, Heidi, Deborah Kennedy, Dean Fergusson, Rochelle Fernandes, Steve Doucette, Kieran Cooley, Andrew Seely, Stephen Sagar, Raimond Wong, and Dugald Seely. “Vitamin A andRetinoid Derivatives for Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.” PLoS One. 6.6. (2011). (Canada)
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Lymphatic system
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Endocrine system
- Bradley, R., K. J. Sherman, S. Catz, C. Calabrese, E. B. Oberg, L. Jordan, L. Grothaus and D. Cherkin (2012). “Adjunctive naturopathic care fortype 2 diabetes: patient-reported and clinical outcomes after one year.” BMC complementary and alternative medicine 12(1): 44.
- Oberg, E. B., R. D. Bradley, J. Allen and M. A. McCrory (2011). “CAM:naturopathic dietary interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes.” Complementary therapies in clinical practice 17(3): 157-161.
- Bradley, R., E. Kozura, H. Buckle, J. Kaltunas, S. Tais and L. J. Standish (2009). “Description of clinical risk factor changes during naturopathic care for type 2 diabetes.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 15(6): 633-638.
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Excretory system
- Aucoin, Monique, Kieran Cooley, Christopher Knee, Heidi Fritz, Lynda G. Balneaves, Rodney Breau, Dean Frgusson, Becky Skidmore, Raimond Wong, and Dugald Seely. “Fish-derived Omega-3Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer: a Systematic Review.” Integrative Cancer Therapies. 16.1 (2016): 32-62. (Canada)
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Reproductive system
- Newton, K. M., S. D. Reed, A. Z. LaCroix, L. C. Grothaus, K. Ehrlich and J. Guiltinan (2006). “Treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause with black cohosh, multibotanicals, soy, hormone therapy, or placebo: arandomized trial.” Annals of internal medicine 145(12): 869-879.
- Arentz, S., C. A. Smith, J. Abbott and A. Bensoussan (2017). “Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines for women with polycystic ovarysyndrome; a systematic review andmeta-analysis.” BMC complementary and alternative medicine 17(1): 500.
- Greenlea, Heather, Lynda G. Balneaves, Linda E. Carlson, Misha Cohen, Gary Deng, Dawn Hershman, Matthew Mumber, Jane Perlmutter,
Dugald Seely, Ananda Sen, Suzanna M. Zick and Debu Tripathy. “Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in PatientsTreated for Breast Cancer.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2014.50 (2014): 346-58. (Canada, USA) - Arentz, S., C. A. Smith, J. Abbott, P. Fahey, B. S. Cheema and A. Bensoussan (2017). “Combined lifestyle and herbal medicine in overweight womenwith polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS):a randomized controlled trial.” Phytotherapy Research 31(9): 1330-1340.
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Naturopathic Medicine Studies
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Find a Naturopath
The British Naturopathic Association is affiliated with the General Council and Register of Naturopaths (GCRN), the leading registering body of Naturopaths in the UK.
All members listed in the Register of Practitioner Members are qualified in Naturopathy and either hold a Degree, Masters, PhD in Naturopathy or have gained a minimum Level 6 qualification.