| New Canadian policy to regulate natural health products (NHPs), such as herbs and vitamins were implemented on January 1st, 2004. The thesis objectives were to evaluate and compare Ontario complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) (naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy and Western herbalism) leaders' knowledge of the new NHP Regulations as well as their views on how the NHP Regulations are expected to impact their goals, practices and philosophical traditions. Data were collected via qualitative interviews with 20 Ontario CAM leaders in 2004. The findings demonstrated that (1) CAM leaders' knowledge of the Regulations was very good and that (2) CAM leaders are concerned about losing access to NHPs as the Regulations become fully implemented. This research demonstrates that naturopaths, homeopaths, Western herbalists, and TCM practitioners have very different beliefs and concerns and that they should be explored on an individual basis rather than grouped together as "CAM" practitioners. |
