It seems as though every week, a new crop of negative news stories is released about the naturopathic and natural health industries. Often, these articles attempt to discount natural supplements, natural or alternative health practices, or the practice of naturopathy, itself.
Last week, a study, entitled “Peroxide ingestion, promoted by alternative medicine, can be deadly,” was released on Science Daily. The piece discusses the notion that peroxide, often touted as a “natural” cure, can cause embolisms in the cardiac, respiratory, and neurological systems.
While this study is absolutely true, and raises a good (albeit obvious) point about the dangers of consuming chemical products, it gives the natural health industry a bad rep. Although naturopathic doctors would never prescribe this remedy—which is often suggested by non-professional, so-called “alternative health” websites—the title of the piece leads readers to believe that this is a common practice.
The good news: you can combat the spread of fake news and misinformation through social media. Write blogs combatting things you see or hear and share them using Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Do your part to reverse the stigma associated with natural health practices, and allow your clients to see the science-based, professional nature of your practices.
