Like Religion, Alternatives To Medicine Continue To Survive Without Supporting Evidence

Since establishing this blog several years ago, I have focused much of my energy on attacking the two major pseudosciences of religion and alternatives to medicine. Click on the link below for an interesting video on the history of the latter. Ironically, many religious folks will shake their heads and say how silly were those practices. The reality: both are silly and harmful to the informed today.

"Modern medicine has seen more development in the past 50 years than in all of human history combined. Many long-practiced medical treatments now seem completely bizarre in retrospect - things like putting animal dung on a wound, drinking urine, carving holes in your skull, or drinking medicinal potions made of morphine or mercury. But which practices are considered the most peculiar from all of human medical history? Which practices were once used as medicinal treatments only to be later found incredibly dangerous?"

Bizarre Medical Practices From History

Balance Of Nature: Let The Buyer Beware

One cannot avoid scams if in any way exposed to media. The following is a particularly egregious example of such from the world of unregulated supplements:

"Balance of Nature, Inc. represents that its dietary supplement provides the nutrition of over 10 servings of whole fruits and vegetables per day, enhances the immune system, and has numerous other health benefits. They rely almost exclusively on testimonials.

"Balance of Nature does not explicitly claim to cure or treat any disease. Instead they use testimonials from people making claims - which are highly subjective and cannot be substantiated - like "Since taking Balance of Nature, I have more energy." Guess what? If you ate a cup of sugar every day, you'd "have more energy", but does that mean that it is a good thing to do?"

Click on the link below for more:

Product Misleading Advertising: Balance of Nature

Wellness: Another Word That Should Raise The Skeptical Antenna

"I read two books about the wellness industry this year: Rina Raphael’s The Gospel of Wellness and Colleen Derkatch’s Why Wellness Sells. These two tomes pull the façade off of this $4.4-trillion wellness economy to interrogate the self-empowerment it sells. Raphael’s book, meant for a lay audience of women, weaves her own adventures in wellness with quotes from experts, who shine a scientific light on the chemophobia of the beauty product business and the supplement recommendations of wellness influencers. (Full disclosure: I was interviewed for a tiny section of the book that deals with functional medicine and have two sentences quoted in there.) Derkatch’s volume, meanwhile, is aimed at an academic audience. It analyzes the language and arguments of wellness and how, for all of its posturing against pharmaceuticals, wellness often relies on the same sickness model and marketing style that medicine uses."

Click on the link below for more:

Why the Gospel of Wellness Sells

More Electromagnetic Quackery

"Today we're going back to our alternative medicine files, and have a look at one of the more expensive and exotic-sounding treatments on the market: Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) devices, promising to end your pain and cure virtually any disease using nothing more than a magnet. If this sounds too good to be true, then you might not be too surprised to learn what the medical consensus is on this. Nevertheless the market is flooded with countless such devices, prompting one to wonder: Is it possible that health and pain-free living are really that easy? Let's find out."

Click on the link below for a podcast delving into this bullsh!t that just will not go away:

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Woo

Metabolism Boosters For Weight Loss?

"It's an adage that gets repeated again and again: you can speed up your metabolism and lose weight by eating certain foods or taking supplements.

"There's just one fairly large problem with that statement. Namely, that it's not true at all.

"No matter what the claims on that bottle of raspberry ketone supplements say, nothing you eat can speed up your metabolism to the point of slimming down. What's more, obese people don't necessarily have slower metabolic rates than thin people. And science can prove it."

Click on the link below for a debunking of one of the most common advertisements on the internet (Sorry, Dr. Oz):

Why "metabolism boosters" are bullshit

Medicare And Alternatives To Medicine

"I recently wrote about the free preventive medicine appointments offered by Medicare. Those are worthwhile and are based on good science, but I was surprised to see that Medicare sometimes departs from rigorously science-based standards. They also cover alternative medicine treatments based on fantasy."

It's not just Medicare. Why is ANY health insurer covering bullish!t? Click on the link below for details:

Medicare doesn’t support good science-based medicine

Harriet Hall: The "SkepDoc" Continues To Debunk Nonsense

For most of my professional life as a physical therapist, there was no one who gave me more fuel to combat medical quackery than my contemporary-in-age Harriet Hall, MD: "a U.S. retired family physician, former U.S. Air Force flight surgeon and skeptic who writes about alternative medicine and quackery for Skeptic and Skeptical Inquirer. She writes under the name The SkepDoc."

Click on the links below for recent examples from her biting commentary that I regularly receive via email (she is no longer accepting requests for such, but, if you would like to get on a "Forward" list that I am creating, send me your email), She also is on Facebook:

Neuroplastic Nonsense

Bobath Cerebral Palsy and Stroke Rehab Nonsense

Supplements: Misguided Marketing

Race and Medicine

Exploding Myths In Culture, Science, And Psychology

"We too readily accept whatever we are taught. Not Tomasz Witkowski! He sets an example that we all should follow: he questions everything! His questions lead him to discover that much of psychology, culture, and even science itself are not supported by credible evidence. This book will challenge you to reconsider some of your most cherished beliefs, and to realize that much of what you thought you knew is wrong. Prepare to be discombobulated by his revelations."

The most important trait of a science-based thinker is to realize that you can be wrong in your beliefs. After all, science is performed by imperfect humans with a limited knowledge base. Ironically, it is this trait that has advanced society through positive change based on objective evidence. Unfortunately, virtually all other worldviews are resistant to change.

Click on the link below for a book review concerning the above realities:

Fads, Fakes, And Frauds

Wellness: Be A Skeptic

"From productivity hacks to primal screams, from magic crystals to manifestation, wellness has become a juggernaut industry promising to provide not just health and happiness, but meaning, purpose, and belonging. What happens when those promises aren’t met?

"Our guest is Rina Raphael, author of the new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care. She’s been reporting on health, wellness, and women’s issues for outlets such as Fast Company, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and many others, and she’s brought all of her experience—both as a journalist and as a consumer—to this important investigation into the wellness industry, particularly its influence on women. In a conversation with Free Inquiry editor Paul Fidalgo, Raphael discusses how, for many people, wellness has become akin to a religious faith, complete with its prophets and heretics, as well as how the failures of the medical establishment to address the needs of women creates an opportunity for wellness marketers to fill the void with their own solutions, ranging from the medically dubious to outright quackery."

"Wellness" is a term that is like popcorn: there may be a kernel of truth, but most of it is hot air. Click on the link below for a podcast that presents the details:

The business of Wellness

Homeopathy Guide

I have posted several times on the quackery of homeopathy (link). There is no possible mechanism of action for homeopathic products. They have slight traces of matter that is so deluded that they can't possibly have anything other than a placebo effect. 

Below is a typical detailed description of a homeopathic product. It's from Amazon. I would recommend Googling any over-the-counter product, and checking out Amazon's page for it, particularly looking for what is bolded and in red below. All chain pharmacies carry several homeopathic products, but the information listed on the product probably is not as inclusive as what you will find on Amazon.

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Product Description

Hyland's Naturals Leg Cramp Tablets temporarily relieve the symptoms of stiffness, pains in limbs, joints and legs, cramps in calves, feet and legs. Hyland's quick-dissolving tablets melt in your mouth instantly to relieve symptoms of pain and cramps in legs and calves, pain in limbs and joints, and cramps in your feet. No need for water and no stomach discomfort. This gentle formula is made with all-natural active ingredients. Hyland’s Naturals is a leading consumer health brand with more than a century of history making high-quality products to help people live healthier and happier lives. Made with natural active ingredients, our products contain no artificial flavors or sugars, dyes or parabens. With a state-of-the-art, FDA regulated and cGMP compliant facility, our top-selling products are sold in more than 15 countries and can be found in every major retailer in the United States.
No Side Effects, No Known Drug Interactions

Hyland’s Leg Cramps are prepared with micro-doses of natural active ingredients to ensure safe relief of leg cramps and leg pain symptoms without the side effects or drug interactions associated with other pain medicines. Hyland’s Leg Cramps does not contain aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen and are safe to take with other medications.

Ingredients

Active Ingredients | Purposes: Cinchona Officinalis 3X HPUS: pains in limbs & joints Aconitum Napellus 6X HPUS: pains in joints, legs Gnaphalium Polycephalum 3X HPUS: cramps in calves & feet Ledum Palustre 6X HPUS: pain and cramps in legs Magnesia Phosphorica 6X HPUS: cramps in calves Rhus Toxicodendron 6X HPUS: pain and stiffness Viscum Album 3X HPUS: pains in joints

“HPUS” indicates the active ingredients are in the official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States.

Legal Disclaimer

CLAIMS BASED ON TRADITIONAL HOMEOPATHIC PRACTICE, NOT ACCEPTED MEDICAL EVIDENCE. NOT FDA EVALUATED.

Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.

The Worst Of The Quacks

As most who follow me know, I am very hard on promoters of alternatives to medicine (quacks). A significant problem with the issue is several of them are prominent in the media. Click on the link below for the *6 worst examples of such, according to one source:

6) Deepak Chopra

5) Dr. Oz

4) Michael Roizen

3) Joseph Mercola

2) Andrew Wakefield

1) Jenny McCarthy

* I would add JFK Jr and ALL Chiropractors to this list!

5 Celebrity Doctors (plus, the worst, who is not a doctor!) Who Are Lying To Us

Why Is There Still Religion And Medical Quackery?

The major religions of today began when written communication was rudimentary and well before modern science evolved. It was a period of ignorance and superstition:

The Growth of Knowledge

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INTELLIGENCE: the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.

KNOWLEDGE: facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education.

SCIENCE: knowledge about the natural world that is based on facts learned through experiments and observation.

UNDERSTANDING: the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination.

IGNORANCE: lack of knowledge or information.

SUPERSTITION: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.

QUACKERY: dishonest practices and claims to have special knowledge and skill in some field, typically medicine.

RELIGION: many definitions, but usually includes belief in spiritual beings/the supernatural/a God.

Chiropractic Quackery: It's More Than The Treatment

"When I first started looking into chiropractic, I read about one of their continuing medical education (CME) offerings. CME for physicians is intended to update their knowledge so they can treat patients more effectively. This chiropractic CME course didn’t try to inform chiropractors about new knowledge from recent studies (there isn’t much new chiropractic research), or to tell them which chiropractic techniques worked better than others (they don’t know and don’t care; they just want to be able to use whichever one they choose). Instead, it was all about practical business tips for practice-building."

Click on the link below for the details. Once again, chiropractic is not medicine, it is a false alternative to such and the buyer had best beware. It is the most prevalent quackery, but it is not alone:

Medical Tests to Avoid

No, Chiropractic Is Still Quackery

One of the alternatives to medicine I have focused on is chiropractic (link). The main reason is that it is growing, it is marketed well, and its harm and waste of resources are overlooked by most chiropractors, many valid medical practitioners, and the public at large. 

Michael Burke, DC has over 40 years of experience as a chiropractor and is a forensic chiropractor testifying in court cases involving chiropractic practices, providing expert opinions about chiropractic diagnosis and treatment (link). While he is a strong critic of his profession in general, he does recognize the value of APPROPRIATE manual treatment and exercise. My main complaint with folks like him is that ONE DOES NOT NEED TO GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR FOR SUCH. In fact, they are not adequately trained in either one. A physical therapist is the one ethical professional trained in the appropriate use of these treatments.

If, after the above, one still wants to avail him or herself of chiropractic, Burke has written an article entitled Do You Really Need To See A Chiropractor?  I leave you with a classic put-down of any alternative to medicine: "It's like popcorn: there may be a kernel of truth there, but most of it is hot air."

The Meaning Of "Organic"

"Words matter. Imagine someone who only speaks English trying to communicate with someone who only speaks Mandarin Chinese. Imagine a physicist trying to discuss energy with a Therapeutic Touch practitioner who claims to be sensing and manipulating a mythical human energy field. For a meaningful discussion, both parties have to speak the same language and have to agree on the definition of the words they are using. Precision of language is essential, especially in science."

I have posted on the deception of "Organic" several times (link). Click on the link below for an article focused on the true definition of the word and how it is being misused for false, greedy purposes:

The Word "Organic" Has Been Hijacked

Royal Quackery

"Prince Charles is a strong advocate for alternative medicine and is proud to be 'the enemy of the Enlightenment.' For the first time, Edzard Ernst tells the full story of Charles’ ignorance and folly."

As far as I'm concerned, prominent persons promoting quackery present a particular danger to society because of the air of authority. Think Robert F Kennedy Jr, for example. There's a reason why corporations pay through the nose for celebrity endorsements. Click on the link below for more:

Prince Charles and Alternative Medicine

More Acupuncture Quackery

"One of my fans sent me a clipping from a community newsletter, Colorado Serenity, with an article by acupuncturist Christina Fick, who calls herself a doctor. The title is “Give Your Immune System Some Love!” It is full of pseudoscientific advice about the things that harm and help the immune system. My correspondent thought it was “a cornucopia of questionable medical advice and treatments, including her own proprietary mushroom medley, which is bad enough.” But what really concerned him was the claim that acupuncture increases your red and white blood cell counts, along with your T-cell counts. He searched the Internet and found a few supporting articles about red and white blood cells; but none were from a reputable medical source, and he was unable to find any mention of T-cells."

Click on the link below for details:

DOES ACUPUNCTURE INCREASE RED AND WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND T-CELLS?

Aging: Beware Of The Quacks

"Most of us want to live as long as possible but would like to avoid the deterioration of aging. So it’s only natural that antiaging remedies abound. Sadly, most of them are just false hope, hype, and snake oil. The consequences of aging are not all bad: the elderly have extensive life experience, more general knowledge, and more wisdom. And they report greater happiness."

Click on the link below for a succinct look and aging and how many quacks take advantage of this natural process:

The Science and Pseudoscience of Aging

Foot Detox Myths

"Companies come and go, but the claims remain the same, that you can (insert claim) with (insert product) without any evidence. A new company offering magical footpads is just putting new wine in old bottles."

Folks, anytime you see the word "detox" in an ad for a product or service it is quackery most likely. About the only time it is legitimate is when the liver is mentioned. Click on the link below for a look into the subject as it relates to the feet.

HERE WE GO AGAIN! RECYCLING DEBUNKED FOOT DETOX MYTHS

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

"Some people turn to a substance called human growth hormone (HGH) in hopes that it will keep them feeling and looking youthful. But experts say that hope is unfounded. And worse, these products can be harmful."

Click on the links below to understand just one more health scam:

HGH Use & Abuse

Human growth hormone (HGH): Does it slow aging?