Upper Cervical Chiropractic: The Worst Of The Quackery?

"Upper cervical chiropractors continue to offer an atlas adjustment to treat a variety of health problems, despite lack of credible evidence to support such treatment."

Click on this link for the details.

Naprapathy: Chiropractic's Little-Known Runt Of The Litter

"The little-known manual therapy is an offshoot of chiropractic and its scientific justification is practically non-existent.

"Buried in a court document mentioning Joe Mercola was the first reference to naprapathy I had ever seen. Joe Mercola has made a fortune selling dietary supplements and publishing health misinformation over the past few decades. The court case did not involve Mercola but rather a woman he had treated. In her lawsuit against a life insurance company, the plaintiff is described as having been bitten by a tick and contracting Lyme disease. After seeing Mercola (who tended to her with “diet and herbal treatments”), she went to see a naprapath. I had to do a double take. What exactly was a naprapath?

"Naprapathy is a manual therapy, much like chiropractic, osteopathy, and massage therapy. It’s all about using hands to tug at and massage body parts, although it often also extends to dietary and exercise advice and to non-invasive complements like ultrasound therapy. Its scientific evaluation barely exists, and while some component of it might be salvageable, I’m not sure naprapaths themselves are right for the job."

Click on the link below for more:

Naprapathy Stretches Credulity

Ketogenic Diet: Update

The following is prompted by an interaction with a chiropractor on YouTube who was promoting the ketogenic diet. He is presently banned from doing such because of poor scientific support (YES!!). I do wish Facebook would do the same thing, and also ban all anti-science quackery that I constantly flag as "misleading or a scam"!:

"'The keto diet is primarily used to help reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in children. While it also has been tried for weight loss, only short-term results have been studied, and the results have been mixed. We don't know if it works in the long term, nor whether it's safe,' warns registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital." (1)

"A ketogenic diet has numerous risks. Top of the list: it's high in saturated fat. McManus recommends that you keep saturated fats to no more than 7% of your daily calories because of the link to heart disease. And indeed, the keto diet is associated with an increase in 'bad' LDL cholesterol, which is also linked to heart disease." (1)

"Other potential keto risks include these:

Nutrient deficiency. 'If you're not eating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and grains, you may be at risk for deficiencies in micronutrients, including selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and C,' McManus says.

Liver problems. With so much fat to metabolize, the diet could make any existing liver conditions worse.

Kidney problems. The kidneys help metabolize protein, and McManus says the keto diet may overload them. (The current recommended intake for protein averages 46 grams per day for women, and 56 grams for men).

Constipation. The keto diet is low in fibrous foods like grains and legumes.

Fuzzy thinking and mood swings. 'The brain needs sugar from healthy carbohydrates to function. Low-carb diets may cause confusion and irritability,' McManus says." (1)

"Being low in fibre, high in saturated fat and red meat, and extremely restrictive, the keto diet does not really align with nutritional guidelines issued by government experts. The diet’s critics say it is, at best, a passing trend and, at worst, a socially acceptable form of disordered eating." (2)

"Published research to date has not shown any meaningful benefit to following a keto diet for athletic performance, he says; in fact, it may impede the ability to exercise at higher intensity." (2)

" - - - following a keto diet is hard. You have to be disciplined, vigilant, and hyperfocused on every food choice – you can’t casually knock back an apple because that may push you out of ketosis. This is not simply a matter of 'willpower'; it is also a question of means, energy, resources and time." (2)

" - - - in reality, we have little evidence to show that keto is more effective in the long run than any other diet – or, indeed, that any diet succeeds in keeping off weight." (2)

" - - - the keto diet may result in weight loss and lower blood sugars, but it’s a quick fix. 'More often than not, it’s not sustainable. Often, weight gain may come back, and you’ll gain more than you lost.'" (3)

" - - - it is ultimately not realistic or sustainable. The diet restricts fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy that can help with long term weight loss and overall health." (3)

" - - - it's important to compare a keto plan to its weight-loss counterparts, like the well-substantiated Mediterranean diets and its spin-offs, like DASH, MIND, and TLC. Those plans incorporate wholesome, nutrient-dense foods that encourage improved eating patterns and manageable weight loss." (4)

" - - - If we were talking about a medication instead of food, would you consider it sound advice to say that taking a certain drug 'might be safe, but definitely not safe for everyone, and it may only work temporarily and cause damage to other biological systems?' Not so much." (4)

"The high-fat, low-carb keto diet tied for second-to-last place among 39 diets in US News & World Report's annual rankings. Despite increasingly popularity and ongoing, often encouraging research, experts say it can be risky to physical and mental health." (5)

Eric Berg DC: Your Arch-Typical All-Around Quack

 "Eric Berg (c. 1972–)^[1] is an American quack, antivaxxer, chiropractor, cholesterol denialist, conspiracy theorist, scientologist and ketogenic diet advocate. Berg promotes pseudoscientific health advice and quackery.^[2][3] Berg is not a medical doctor.^[4] Berg practiced chiropractic for 29 years and is now a full-time YouTube blogger who has made thousands of videos offering health advice. Berg has over 4 million subscribers and claims to have made over 5000 videos.^[5]" (Rational Wiki)

Click on the link above for more.

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

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

A Reminder: Your Brain Alone Is Not Reliable

Recently, I have received a great deal of push-back on my Facebook page regarding some topics, for example: chiropractic, acupuncture, corporal punishment, GMOs, and nuclear power. Frankly, their arguments are no different than the Intelligent Design folks. As I frequently say, tell me what other than the consensus of scientists actually working in the discipline under discussion will give you a better understanding of reality regarding such.

Regarding consumer products, including food from GMOs, unfortunately, there is a strong unsupported conspiracy theory that for-profit corporations cannot perform unbiased scientific studies. Should we ignore any research funded by companies or special interest groups? Certainly not. These groups provide invaluable funding for scientific research. Furthermore, science has many safeguards in place to catch instances of bias that affect research outcomes. Ultimately, misleading results will be corrected as science proceeds. (link)(link)

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."

Osteopathic Physicians Are Real Medical Doctors, But - - -

Osteopathic physicians are real medical doctors but traditionally have additional training in manual manipulative techniques not unlike the quackery upon which chiropractic is centered. In spite of all the knowledge gained since the founding of osteopathy, this additional training is mandatory in osteopathy medical schools. Beware: sometimes if one has a hammer, everything looks like a nail. (link)

Chiropractic And Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, and is typically experienced as psychological stress when they participate in an action that goes against one or more of them. The research article below shows the internal conflict that many chiropractic students experience when reality conflicts with their indoctrination into pseudoscience. Please note that chiropractic for spinal pain is treated in a positive light in the article when such is either a placebo or is effective treatment that can be provided by legitimate medical professionals called physical therapists without the risks inherent with quackery.

Chiropractic student research

Research Into Chiropractic Come Up Short

There is no scientific support for chiropractic. Any studies showing improvement are either poorly designed or show treatment effects that are no better than traditional physical therapy or placebo. Thus, I ask the question, "Why continue to research it?"

"In the cases of asthma, infant colic, autism spectrum disorder, gastrointestinal problems, fibromyalgia, back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome, there was no conclusive scientific evidence." (link)

"Although the major reason for pediatric patients to attend a chiropractor is spinal pain, no adequate studies have been performed in this area. It is time for the chiropractic profession to take responsibility and systematically investigate the efficiency of joint manipulation of problems relating to the developing musculoskeletal system." (link)

"All randomized controlled trials with high or acceptable quality found that SMT was not superior to sham interventions for the treatment of these non-musculoskeletal disorders." (link)

WHY DO THESE QUACKS GET HEALTH CARE INSURANCE AND GOVERNMENT FUNDS?

New Book On The Dangers And Dishonesty Of Chiropractic

 "This book is an excellent, comprehensive reference for all things chiropractic. It provides solid facts to correct widespread misinformation. It provides evidence that should answer any question a reader might come up with. It doesn’t tell readers what to think, but it provides the tools to help them think clearly for themselves. Thank you, Edzard, for once again sharing your wisdom, knowledge, and experience with the world."

Edzard Ernst Tackles Chiropractic

Chiropractic: Quackery From The Beginning

"Background: Chiropractic emerged in 1895 and was promoted as a viable health care substitute in direct competition with the medical profession. This was an era when there was a belief that one cause and one cure for all disease would be discovered. The chiropractic version was a theory that most diseases were caused by subluxated (slightly displaced) vertebrae interfering with “nerve vibrations” (a supernatural, vital force) and could be cured by adjusting (repositioning) vertebrae, thereby removing the interference with the body’s inherent capacity to heal. DD Palmer, the originator of chiropractic, established chiropractic based on vitalistic principles. Anecdotally, the authors have observed that many chiropractors who overtly claim to be “vitalists” cannot define the term. Therefore, we sought the origins of vitalism and to examine its effects on chiropractic today.

"Discussion: Vitalism arose out of human curiosity around the biggest questions: Where do we come from? What is life? For some, life was derived from an unknown and unknowable vital force. For others, a vital force was a placeholder, a piece of knowledge not yet grasped but attainable. Developments in science have demonstrated there is no longer a need to invoke vitalistic entities as either explanations or hypotheses for biological phenomena. Nevertheless, vitalism remains within chiropractic. In this examination of vitalism within chiropractic we explore the history of vitalism, vitalism within chiropractic and whether a vitalistic ideology is compatible with the legal and ethical requirements for registered health care professionals such as chiropractors.

"Conclusion: Vitalism has had many meanings throughout the centuries of recorded history. Though only vaguely defined by chiropractors, vitalism, as a representation of supernatural force and therefore an untestable hypothesis, sits at the heart of the divisions within chiropractic and acts as an impediment to chiropractic legitimacy, cultural authority and integration into mainstream health care."   (Vitalism in contemporary chiropractic: a help or a hindrance?)

Lo-Bak TRAX: Another Chiropractic False "Treatment"

Preface: The following is an expose of one of the many false "treatments" perpetuated by Chiropractic. If you are wondering what makes me qualified to pass such judgment, I submit the following: 40+ years of experience as a physical therapist/rehabilitation director specializing in orthopedics, with a sub-specialty addressing spine problems.
- - - - - - -

Click here for the Main website. Click on the video and watch carefully: the device is only anteriorly pelvic tilting without any significant spinal traction. In fact, it actually compresses the facet joints and posterior discs of the spine!!

Click here for deceptive information concerning "FDA Cleared": this level does not indicate effectiveness at all!! It's only "not life-threatening." For a device to be "FDA Approved", it has to be shown through extensive studies that it is also effective for the medical problem(s) addressed.

Therapy And Chiropractic Quackery (Part 3)

Trademarked Treatment Methods

"'Modality empire' is my own term1 for a proprietary method of manual therapy — a sub-discipline — championed and promoted by a single entrepreneur who is likely to suffer from a serious case of healer syndrome. It’s important to know this if you have a chronic pain problem, because so many of the therapies that will be offered to you are the dubious products of modality empires. If you are a manual therapist, especially a massage therapist or chiropractor, you need to understand it too: continuing education should mainly be about acquiring knowledge — with an emphasis on “how to think, not just what to think” (Jason Erickson, HealthArtes.com) — and not just on buying the right to say that you use a trademarked technique."

Click on the link below for an in-depth look at this problem.

The trouble with the toxic tradition of ego-driven, trademarked treatment methods in massage therapy, chiropractic, and physiotherapy

Therapy And Chiropractic Quackery (Part 2)

Structuralism: It's Not Just Chiropractic

"To understand injuries and pain problems and to recover from them more effectively, both patients and professionals need to stop trying to think of the body as a machine that breaks down, and start thinking more in terms of squishy, messy physiology, especially neurology and biochemistry, and even messier psychology and lifestyle factors. Curve balls like medication side effects and subtle pathologies are major drivers of pain.4 Exhaustion, emotional distress,5 smoking,6 and being really out-of-shape are all more important risk factors for pain than any typical “misalignment” has ever been. And then there’s the way chronic pain seems to be a disease in its own right, and the bizarre phenomenon of central sensitization, basically turning up the “volume” on all pain.7 Pain itself is much weirder and more useful to understand — its volatility, its inherent unpredictability8 — than the many mechanical glitches that supposedly cause it."

Click on the link below for an in-depth look at the fallacy of over-interpreting misalignment's cause for pain.

Your Back Is Not Out of Alignment

Chiropractic Continues To Pretend To Be Legitimate

Among the areas that are purported to be helped by Chiropractic is (wait for it - -) "Brain Function." A reminder: at best, chiropractic is an expensive placebo. Let the buyer beware: the government is a lap dog to all pseudoscience medical treatment providers. SMH

• The available evidence suggests that changes occur in ‘brain function’ in response to spinal manipulation but are inconsistent across and - sometimes - within studies. The clinical relevance of these changes is unknown. It is therefore premature to promote the use of spinal manipulation as a treatment to improve ‘brain function’. (Unraveling functional neurology: does spinal manipulation have an effect on the brain? - a systematic literature review)

A Reminder: Bogus Stem Cell Therapy Will Not Go Away

Chiropractors, in union with other shady practitioners, continue to pull the wool over the public's eyes. Below are two links to educate you:

Stem Cells and Chiropractic

The FDA and Stem Cell Therapy

Chiropractic Used The Political System, So Is Naturopathy

Anyone who follows me knows that I was against all alternatives to medicine even before I saw reality regarding religion. That said, chiropractors have successfully "manipulated" (pun intended) the political system to achieve state licensing and payment for their bogus "treatments" by the government and private health insurances. Naturopaths are doing the same thing. Be aware.

Naturopathy is bogus also