California State Naturopathic Medical Association .... Information

The California State Naturopathic Medical Association is the unifying organization of naturopaths who work in the State of California. The California State Naturopathic Medical Association is, by far, the largest association of naturopaths in California.

What is Naturopathy? Naturopathy is a system of natural healing that dates back several thousand years. The term naturopathy came into use in the early 1900s. Naturopathy is founded on the belief that the body can heal itself when supported by appropriate natural interventions. It uses combinations of interventions which are generally considered to be in the realm of "alternative health" such as herbology, homeopathy, diet & clinical nutrition, natural manipulation, exercise, muscle testing, electrical stimulation, counseling, water (sometimes called hydrotherapy), biofeedback, light, and other natural procedures. Click here to learn more about Naturopathy in the State of California.

Do Naturopaths Use Drugs or Surgery? While some of our members are medical doctors (with additional naturopathic training) and thus are permitted by law to prescribe medication or perform surgery, these procedures are not considered to be within the scope of naturopathy by the vast majority of our members. The Congressional Record dated February 7, 1931 stated, "Naturopathy does not contemplate drugs and surgical operations, nor is it within the scope of their science of practice. To the contrary, they do not use or prescribe drugs as part of their treatment, nor do they advocate or perform surgical operations upon their patients".

Is the California State Naturopathic Medical Association Against Conventional Medicine? No. The California State Naturopathic Medical Association believes that the different branches of the medical profession (which includes optometry and dentistry) have a role to play in helping those who suffer from ill health. We also believe that non-medical interventions such as chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy have a role in helping those who suffer from ill health. We believe only those interventions which work in harmony with natural law (which can vary considerably by individual circumstance) can result in optimal health.

Why Should I Join the California State Naturopathic Medical Association? You should join the CSNMA in order to support true naturopathy and improve the health of California residents. The mission of the California State Naturopathic Medical Association is to expand the use of naturopathic interventions to as many health professionals as possible. We believe this diversity will best serve the residents of the State of California, as well as our present and future members. We strive to provide technical and scientific educational opportunities for naturopaths. We accept the standards as originally developed for our profession and thus stand for true naturopathy. We favor real naturopathic education, clinical internships, and rigorous certification for naturopathic professionals. We are the major group protecting the rights of true naturopaths to practice within California--these rights are under constant attack. CSNMA sets the standards for naturopathy in California. If you are not with us, who will be your voice? We cannot continue to succeed without your support.

Who Can Be a Member of the California State Naturopathic Medical Association? Consistent with our mission statement, the California State Naturopathic Medical Association (CSNMA) has a policy of non-discrimination regarding membership. Our members are health care professionals (or students) with a variety of professional and academic backgrounds who have demonstrated a commitment to the principles of naturopathy. CSNMA is affiliated with the ANMA. Contact the ANMA at www.anma.com or 702-897-7053 for ANMA membership information. CSNMA membership costs $72.00 per year, an application is available online.

CSNMA, the unifying organization which stands for true naturopathy! Click here for the lastest CSNMA Update. Here is the first 2001 CSNMA Update and the last 2000 CSNMA Update.

CSNMA believes that genetically-modified foods sold in California should be properly identified. The CSNMA has been working since October 1999 to get such a bill introduced. CSNMA (and of course ANMA, please see related article in the December 1999 issue of the ANMA Monitor or click here for a related article) believes that consumers have a fundamental right to know whether or not foods they eat are real or contain genetically-modified substances.

The following supplement companies primarily support CSNMA or kindred groups:

American Herbal Products/New Vita www.newvita.com 800-307-0928
Doctors' Research, Inc. www.doctorsresearch.com 877-305-3333
Ellon Botanicals 800-978-8808
GY&N 661-266-4676
Nature's Sunshine (unofficial website www.backtohealth.net) 800-453-1422; Spanish Language 800-321-0214
NuFem 800-638-2404
Royal Nutrition 800-524-3727
Sabre Sciences 805-496-0106
Standard Enzyme 800-670-1999
White Flower/Janta 650-591-9465

The following supplement companies primarily support CANP or its related groups (if you buy supplements from any of these companies, please ask them why they do not support the CSNMA/ANMA):

Herb Pharm, K'an Herb, Mediherb, Metagenics, NF Formulas, North American Pharmacal, Omnivite Nutrition, Phyto Pharmica/Thorne Research, Pure Encapsulations, Rx Vitamins, Spectrum Naturals, Standard Homeopathic, Tyler Encapsulations, Vital Nutrients, Western Herbs, Wise Woman Herbals, Women's International Pharmacy

Note: There are supplement companies which have recently began to support CSNMA/ANMA which are not yet on the support list. There are also supplement companies which to some degree support both sides, and they are not shown on either list.

CSNMA puts on a annual conference for health care professionals. Its next convention is scheduled for February 10 and 11, 2002. You can click here to learn more about our next convention.