It is a real pleasure to see, and be a part of, the return of the peer-reviewed International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine (IntJNM) and to share with you the mission statement for this journal. Taking the lead from its prior incarnation as a web-based journal, IntJNM will continue to publish relevant material for both naturopathic clinicians and researchers. The ultimate goal of IntJNM is to enrich the profession by providing a constructive forum for debate and education. IntJNM seeks to encourage a collectively built, experiential, and evidentiary clinical practice that will both hone and extend our system’s unique, eclectic, and unified medical practice.
We are interested in receiving and publishing original research studies, but also are keen to hear of any unusual cases that occur directly in clinical practice, or for that matter common cases that strike you as important or interesting in some way. The material that IntJNM will publish includes case reports and series, primary research (e.g. clinical trials, observational studies, and lab-based work), and secondary/synthesis/review work on topics directly relevant to naturopathic medicine. If you find a topic interesting and relevant, then rest assured that your colleagues will as well. Please take the opportunity and the time to educate the rest of us.
The articles written for IntJNM and submitted for peer-review lie at the heart of any appeal this journal may have. Without quality publications, there is no educational message, no stimulation for new clinical application, and a weak development of our body of knowledge. I think you will agree with me that the articles in this issue are worthwhile, engaging, and fully within the spirit of the journal’s mission. These publications are a testament to authors who are dedicated to providing rigorous literature review, novel research, insightful analysis, and direction for clinical practice and future research.
My thanks to Dr. Don Warren for providing his perspective and support in the guest editorial he has provided. We need to hear from our well-respected elders and want readers to benefit from their depth of experience and clinical wisdom. To all those with the desire to share clinical pearls or any other insights on clinical practice or other issues of relevance, please be in touch, we want to hear from you.
It is a delight to be able to publish some of the primary research that is being conducted by naturopathic physicians. Clearly the North American colleges that both educate NDs and actively support growth in the evidence base of naturopathic medicine are fostering high-quality research. This is research that has relevance to healthcare overall, and has direct and immediate significance to naturopathic clinical practice.
The chart review provided by Dr. Chinnock and colleagues starts with an explanation of how cortisol dysregulation and DHEA levels may contribute to glucose control. The retrospective analysis, conducted at the Helfgott Research Institute and NCNM, is valuable in that it provides information on salivary cortisol excretion patterns from a group of patients who are either diabetic or prediabetic. Importantly, three distinct patterns of cortisol dysregulation are identified; and it is interesting to note that fasting blood glucose did not appear correlated with any of these patterns identified. The limitations to this review and chart reviews in general are well characterized, and I only hope that this line of investigation can be continued with well-controlled and prospective studies to further explore the findings discussed here.
It was great to see and review a cross-sectional survey of students enrolled at one of the naturopathic colleges in order to test an important hypothesis. Work by Dr. Tippens and colleagues at NCNM has demonstrated that soy allergy may be more likely amongst people who consumed soy formula as a child compared to those who did not. It is interesting to find that the same effect was not demonstrated for dairy allergy; however, further work needs to explore this question (as well as that for soy).
Related to polarization in the immune system, Gillingham and Lescheid provide a wonderful discussion on the Th1/Th2 division and how imbalances can be corrected by targeted probiotic therapy. This kind of in-depth review allows for real understanding of the pathological and biochemical origin of diseases like Crohn’s and the propensity towards atopy, thus enabling more informed therapeutic choices that may truly address root cause.
Dillingham and Rao provide a thorough discussion of the evidence, application, and pharmacokinetics of lycopene. From epidemiology to mechanism of action, the paper provides a strong rationale for using this vegetable-based antioxidant in clinical practice.
A comprehensive review is provided by Drs. Kassis, Santosa, and Jones on the topic of dietary fiber for a variety of health complaints. Dietary interventions that emphasize this staple approach should never be far from mind and a full review of this topic is appreciated. A final review by Drs. Rudkowska and Jones looks closely at the use of fats for weight control, a clear and pressing clinical concern. It is encouraging to see the collaboration of a student with a licensed ND as in the write-up of the case report by Sara Love and Dr. Weizer. The report gives an account of how naturopathic care may well have resolved a patient’s chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. In addition to being an interesting and educational case, this report provides evidence of a successful mentorship. Drs. Kao and Levytam have provided an interesting discussion of a ‘Eubiotic’ diet and its application elucidated in a case report. Of note, this case report and its poster presentation won first prize for a case report competition held by The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors in Halifax.
The final article in the issue fits within a more classically educational role in that it specifically offers a rough guideline for writing a case report. The intent that Dr. Leung and I have with this article is not to be prescriptive on how to write a case report, but rather to provide assistance where it might help most. In the spirit of good education, the idea is to have a tool to enable rather than a set of rules to follow.
I would like to take a moment to extend my deep gratitude to the authors of this issue. They have waited a long time to see their work published and we appreciate their patience and loyalty to the idea and existence of this journal to not have sought publication elsewhere. The material published here is excellent and demonstrates a variety that well matches the scope of our medicine and the challenges we continue to face as a profession.
I would like to take this opportunity to also thank Dr. David Tallman for taking on the task of publishing the journal. Without David’s commitment, this journal’s publication in hard copy format would not have been possible. I can say that given the track record of NDNR, I have every confidence that this journal will be something we can be proud of. Furthermore, we are absolutely committed to having no external financial or industry influence impinge on the editorial integrity of IntJNM. The editorial board of IntJNM brings together a number of highly dedicated and accomplished clinicians and clinician/ researchers who have volunteered to guide and support the journal. As well as providing important content contribution, the editorial board will provide the essential core service of peer review for the articles that are submitted to IntJNM. I am honored to work with such an expert group of individuals. Finally, I would like to offer profound thanks to our senior Associate Medical Editor, Dr. Diana Buehler, for her thorough and generous work as copy editor.
Success of this journal requires active support by the professional body. We need authors who will take the time to document their work and to share it with our colleagues. In addition, we need an engaged audience of subscribers who will actively support the journal. I urge you to explore the journal’s website at www.intjnm.org (add it as a favorite in your preferred websurfer), and most importantly to subscribe. To all potential authors, I encourage you to become involved with this publication. Please write, critique, review, debate, and share your insights and concerns. A simple letter to the editor can be very short, but still generate excellent discussion; take the time to comment on a paper you’ve read or raise an issue of importance to the profession and you will be enriched by the process. As with any peer-reviewed journal, I can’t guarantee that everything will get published, but you will get a fair appraisal. A final word to naturopathic researchers and academics; we want to be a preferred forum for publication so that you can communicate with your colleagues. Let’s work together to make this journal a dynamic part of the evolution of naturopathic medicine.
Sincerely,
Dugald Seely, ND, MSc
Editor-in-Chief
editor@intjnm.org