III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 221 

Designating the week of October 7 through October 13, 2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine Week’’ to recognize the value of naturopathic medicine 

in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 

Ms. MIKULSKI submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of October 7 through October 13, 

2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine Week’’ to recognize 

the value of naturopathic medicine in providing safe, 

effective, and affordable health care. 

Whereas, in the United States, more than 75 percent of 

health care costs are due to preventable chronic illnesses, 

including high blood pressure, which affects 88,000,000 

people in the United States, and diabetes, which affects 

26,000,000 people in the United States; 

Whereas nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are 

overweight or obese and, consequently, at risk for serious 

health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, 

cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and depression; 


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•SRES 221 ATS 

Whereas 70 percent of people in the United States experience 

physical or nonphysical symptoms of stress, and stress 

can contribute to the development of major illnesses, such 

as cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes; 

Whereas the aforementioned chronic health conditions are 

among the most common, costly, and preventable health 

conditions; 

Whereas naturopathic medicine provides noninvasive, holistic 

treatments that support the inherent self-healing capacity 

of the human body and encourage self-responsibility in 

health care; 

Whereas naturopathic medicine focuses on patient-centered 

care, the prevention of chronic illnesses, and early intervention in the treatment of chronic illnesses; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians attend 4-year, graduate 

level programs that are accredited by agencies approved 

by the Department of Education; 

Whereas aspects of naturopathic medicine have been shown 

to lower the risk of major illnesses such as cardiovascular 

disease and diabetes; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians can help address the shortage of primary care providers in the United States; 

Whereas naturopathic physicians are trained to refer patients 

to conventional physicians and specialists when necessary; 

Whereas the profession of naturopathic medicine is dedicated 

to providing health care to underserved populations; and 

Whereas naturopathic medicine provides consumers in the 

United States with more choice in health care, in line 

with the increased use of a variety of integrative medical 

treatments: Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 221 ATS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week of October 7 through 

3 October 13, 2013, as ‘‘Naturopathic Medicine 

4 Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the value of naturopathic medi6 cine in providing safe, effective, and affordable 

7 health care; and 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to learn about naturopathic medicine and the role 

10 that naturopathic physicians play in preventing 

11 chronic and debilitating illnesses and conditions. 

Æ 


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