Osteopathy for migraine? | Edzard Ernst

Osteopathy is a difficult subject. In the US, osteopaths are (almost) identical with doctors who have studied conventional medicine and hardly practice any manipulative techniques at all. Elsewhere, osteopaths are alternative healthcare providers specialising in what they like to call ‘osteopathic manipulative therapy’ (OMT). As though this is not confusing enough, osteopaths are doing similar […]

Read on: Osteopathy for migraine?

July 2015 in review: Part 4

So far we’ve reviewed the cover stories, pages 1-10, pages 11-21 and pages 22-39.  We’re nearly at the staple, without a hint of any remotely credible advice that doctors don’t give you. Lots of adverts, though.

Page 40  is the start of an article titled “sweet not-so-nothings”. (it runs on pp. 41, 43, 44, 47, and a listicle …

Continue reading July 2015 in review: Part 4 →

Myths of the Flu Vaccine

In this episode, we cover the myths of the flu vaccine. Myth 1: The flu shot can give you the flu. Myth 2: The flu is just a bad version of the cold. Myth 3: I am ...

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Dad whose son died urges meningococcal vaccinations - The Columbian

EUGENE, Ore.— While half of University of Oregon undergraduates skipped the recommended vaccination against the deadly type B meningococcal disease, one Oregon father drove his son to Canada to get t...

anarchic_teapot's insight:
That the vaccine hasn't even been available in the USA is staggering.

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There are powerful currents whipping up the metric tide. The HEFCE metrics report

This is very quick synopsis of the 500 pages of a report on the use of metrics in the assessment of research. It’s by far the most thorough bit of work I’ve seen on the topic. It was written by a group, chaired by James Wilsdon, to investigate the possible role of metrics in the assessment of research [...]

Read the rest at: There are powerful currents whipping up the metric tide. The HEFCE metrics report - DC's Improbable Science: Truth, falsehood and evidence: investigations of dubious and dishonest science

Family launching enquiry into mysterious death of anti-vaccine doctor

WDDTY is part of the counter-factual counter-culture that is the anti-vaccination movement. An antivax doctor kills himself as the feds move in on his fraudulent empire? It must have been black helicopters.

Mystery surrounds the sudden death of Dr Jeff Bradstreet, a high-profile anti-vaccine campaigner who treated autistic children. His body was found in a … 

Continue reading Family launching enquiry into mysterious death of anti-vaccine doctor →

(de)Romanticising energy

... re-reminded of my perennial confusion at the term ‘energy medicine’, as freely resorted to by the CAM-ites, in particular those who claim to be all things to all people – the homeopaths. What exactly is it, this energy, that its proponents so enthusiastically espouse without explaining what it is they mean? Is definition deemed superfluous? Because arming the pseudoscientifically gullible with the mere terminology is enough to satisfy not only their limited critical faculties, but also those of potential converts? Because for the advocates/disciples/apostles of homeopathy et al, no further information or explanation is necessary?

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If you think that homeopathy is harmless, read this | Edzard Ernst

Many people seem to believe that homeopathy is harmless. It is a belief that can easily be shown to be wrong, and this blog has repeatedly done just that. Perhaps the best researched issue here is the stance of many homeopaths against vaccination. But this is by no means all.

There are uncounted books, articles and websites which mislead consumers into believing that they can cure their illnesses with homeopathy […]

Read on: If you think that homeopathy is harmless, read this

Do regular chiropractic ‘adjustments’ stimulate the immune system or just the chiropractors’ cash flow? | Edzard Ernst

Many chiropractors try to tell us that vaccinations are not necessary, if we receive regular spinal adjustments. This claim is based on the assumption that spinal manipulations stimulate the immune system. Take the text published on this website, for instance:

The nervous system and immune system are hardwired and work together to create optimal responses […]

Read on: Do regular chiropractic ‘adjustments’ stimulate the immune system or just the chiropractors’ cash flow?

Jim Carrey’s meltdown is the perfect microcosm of the anti-vaccine mindset

I was running up and down an unpronounceable neighborhood yesterday but still managing to check in with friends and colleagues in the USA. As they all celebrated the 4th of July, I was reminded of the spectrum of beliefs about everything that we humans have. Yesterday’s social media postings went from people who didn’t care […]

Read more at: Jim Carrey’s meltdown is the perfect microcosm of the anti-vaccine mindset by Reuben

‘Real World Research': the paper that broke my BS-detector! | Edzard Ernst

A paper entitled ‘Real world research: a complementary method to establish the effectiveness of acupuncture’ caught my attention recently. I find it quite remarkable and think it might stimulate some discussion on this blog. Here is its abstract:

Acupuncture has been widely used in the management of a variety of diseases for thousands of years, and many relevant […]

Read on: ‘Real World Research': the paper that broke my BS-detector!

July 2015 in review: Part 3

We’ve seen the cover stories, pages 1-10 and pages 11-21.  Thus far, most of the content has been adverts, followed by things doctors do tell you and falsehoods from previous issues of  WDDTY. A bit of a swindle, the first quarter, and not even much of the lunatic nonsense for which WDDTY is famed. All that is about …

Continue reading July 2015 in review: Part 3 →

A pharmacist’s defence of homeopathy | Edzard Ernst

I have always wondered how pharmacists might justify useing or recommending or selling homeopathic remedies. So far, I have not come across a pharmacist who would want to stick his/her neck out for homeopathy. Many pharmacists earn money by selling homeopathic preparations – but most seem to be embarrassed by this fact and don’t want to defend it. […]
Read on: A pharmacist’s defence of homeopathy

Integrated/integrative medicine: a paradise for charlatans? | Edzard Ernst

The Americans call it ‘INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE'; in the UK, we speak of ‘INTEGRATED MEDICINE’ – and we speak about it a lot: these terms are, since several years, the new buzz-words in the alternative medicine scene. They sound so convincing, authoritative and politically correct that I am not surprised their use spread like wild-fire.

But what is INTEGRATED MEDICINE? […]

Read on: Integrated/integrative medicine: a paradise for charlatans?

July 2012 in review: part 2

So far we’ve looked at the cover stories and the first ten pages. Brace yourselves, there’s more to come.

Page 11 is a full page advert for Cytoplan, who claim that their Wholefood Cherry C contains only pure, powdered acerola cherry because, as they say, “food supplement nutrients in the same form as those in …

Continue reading July 2012 in review: part 2 →