Alternative Health Care
Alternative Health Care

They might not be welcome in your yard, but it turns out that dandelions have tremendous potential when it comes to helping people who are suffering from cancer. Chemo-resistant melanoma is now the most common type of cancer affecting Americans aged 25 to 29. The only option doctors can presently offer these patients is surgery to remove the tumor and its surroundings, followed by immunotherapy, which does not usually work when the melanoma has metastasized. However, all that looks set to change, thanks to a humble plant that many people pull out of their gardens and throw away.

Recently an association of four-year trained naturopathic doctors (NDs) in Oregon brought a class action lawsuit against an insurance provider. They allege that the insurance company conducted unlawful and discriminatory practices by arbitrarily denying payments for primary care services provided by NDs. Following the passage of Obamacare, insurance providers are required to cover one annual physical per year, but some companies are not reimbursing NDs for these services because NDs aren’t being recognized by insurance providers as primary care doctors. The lawsuit also alleges that Obamacare actually prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against practitioners who are practicing within the scope of their licenses—and Oregon NDs are licensed to practice primary care, prescribe medicines, and order tests for their patients.