When the regular medicines, popularly prescribed by most of the approved doctors, are made in laboratories, there is a need to explore something more natural. Enter Naturopathy, an alternative to regular medicinal practice. While many claim that Naturopathy in the west is practiced by Christians who engage in quackery, some of the benefactors have come out with success stories: with homeopathy or any other form. There are a few reasons as to why Naturopathy is vehemently opposed in the United States and other western countries:
- Lobbying by Pharmaceutical Companies
Companies like Novartis, Sun Pharma (more details) among many others are huge in terms of money and lobbying power. These are billion dollar firms with an ever-increasing band of stakeholders. Like in the movie, ‘Thank you for smoking’ featuring Aaron Eckhart who is a superstar lobbyist, many people indulge in lobbying to make sure that the demand for Allopathic medicines is maintained. A majority of the drug stores in the US stock allopathic medicines. To keep it that way, employees of pharma companies, right from sales representatives to the CXOs indulge in shaming alternative medical practices, especially Naturopathy. Some resort to saying that handing out water-soluble pills is just placebo and not any form of medicine (referring to Homeopathy)
- Lack of Government support
The governments are influenced by those with big money. That much has been established. And those which are ‘accepted practices’ throughout the western world belong to Allopathic form of treatment. Hence, the government would naturally agree with the majority. Anyone would hesitate to take a stab in the dark in the operation theatre. Likewise, people are reluctant to go after something that they are not entirely sure about in the field of health and medicine.
- Indulgence of quackery and cult practices by fringe elements
There is always some truth to rumors. In India, the present government usually circulates a rumor through the stronghold of sponsors via the media. Then once people get apprehensive, they unmask the rumor revealing something less dangerous. Not dissimilarly, there is some truth about the practice of Quackery among some of the priests who practice medicine. However, these are fringe elements targeting the uninitiated.
Overall, what is observed here is the lack of a governing body and the general disinterest and indifference of the government. If someone could document the success stories and then make sure the government sees it, we would be writing an entirely different story. Afterall, history is written by the victors.