How to kill patients with (‘risk-free’) homeopathic remedies

The website of ‘HOMEOPATHY 360’ has just published a new post offering a handy instruction for killing patients suffering from acute appendicitis. If you do not believe me – I don’t blame you, I too found it hard to believe – read this short excerpt advocating homeopathy for this life-threatening condition (for readers without a medical […]

Read the rest here: How to kill patients with (‘risk-free’) homeopathic remedies

HAPPILY PROMOTING BOGUS TREATMENTS: the story of animal chiropractic

I am sure you always wanted to know what animal chiropractic is all about! 

This website explains it quite well: 

START OF QUOTES 

…Animal chiropractic (veterinary spinal manipulative therapy) focuses on the preservation and health/wellness of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Chiropractic is the science that is centered around the relationship between the spine and the nervous system. […]

Read the rest here: HAPPILY PROMOTING BOGUS TREATMENTS: the story of animal chiropractic

Enforcement Policy Statement on Marketing Claims for OTC Homeopathic Drugs

The US ‘FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION’ has issued an important statement about homeopathic products. The full text with references can be found here; below are a few quotes which I thought were crucial: 

“…Homeopathy, which dates back to the late-eighteenth century, is based on the view that disease symptoms can be treated by minute doses of substances […]

Read the rest here: Enforcement Policy Statement on Marketing Claims for OTC Homeopathic Drugs

‘DETOX’ = a danerous and counter-productive illusion

Alternative medicine is deeply rooted in the notion of ‘detox’. This website is one of thousands and displays some of the issues in an exemplary fashion: 

START OF QUOTES 

…There are more than 80,000 chemicals used in the industrialized world. Accumulate enough of these toxins and you might suffer, at the very least, fatigue, headaches, muscle […]

Read the rest here: ‘DETOX’ = a danerous and counter-productive illusion

Use of alternative medicine is associated with low vaccination rates

The fact that some alternative medicine (the authors use the abbreviation ‘CAM’) practitioners recommend against vaccination is well-known and often-documented. Specifically implicated are:

• Physicians practising integrative medicine 
• Doctors of anthroposophical medicine 
• Naturopaths 
• Homeopaths 
• Chiropractors 

As a result, children consulting homeopaths, naturopaths or chiropractors are less likely to receive vaccines and more likely to get vaccine-preventable diseases. These effects […]

Read the rest here: Use of alternative medicine is associated with low vaccination rates

'First Ever' Study Comparing Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children Shows Harm from Vaccines?

In April 2017, anti-vaccine groups seemed to have finally gotten what amounted to the Holy Grail for their cause: an allegedly large-scale, peer-reviewed study showing the links between vaccines and autism among a large population of children. Vaccine skeptic groups, who reject the wide body of scientific literature refuting that link between vaccines and autism, have long sought such a study, but they’ve been hampered by practical concerns, most notably the ethical implications of withholding vaccines from a large group of children...

Read on: 'First Ever' Study Comparing Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children Shows Harm from Vaccines? - Snopes.com

Adverse events of (chiropractic) spinal manipulations: the unethical behaviour persists

How often have I pointed out that most studies of chiropractic (and other alternative therapies) are overtly unethical because they fail to report adverse events? And if you think this is merely my opinion, you are mistaken. This new analysis by a team of chiropractors aimed to describe the extent of adverse events reporting in published RCTs of […]

Read the rest here: Adverse events of (chiropractic) spinal manipulations: the unethical behaviour persists

More BS from the BMJ

A recent post discussed a ‘STATE OF THE ART REVIEW’ from the BMJ. When I wrote it, I did not know that there was more to come. It seems that the BMJ is planning an entire series on the state of the art of BS! The new paper certainly looks like it:

Headaches, including primary headaches […]

Read the rest here: More BS from the BMJ

Alan Schmukler's Homeopathy Handbook - Plague of Mice

... Anyway, back to Homeopathy: An A-Z Home Handbook, to give it its full title. There is a webshite misnamed healgently-dot-com that punts it to all and sundry, and yes: it makes all the usual false claims for the sugar pills it promotes. I may use up another post to go further into Schmukko’s site, as it’s small, but rich in WTF. Let’s start with the book. As a precautionary measure, please place a pillow in front of you to reduce the risk of concussion from repeated headdesking. You may also need something eminently punchable, like an inflatable Andrew Wakefield doll...

Full post here: Alan Schmukler's Homeopathy Handbook - Plague of Mice

Insisting on evidence in alternative medicine is hypocritical, isn’t it?

The website of BMJ Clinical Evidence seems to be popular with fans of alternative medicine (FAMs). That sounds like good news: it’s an excellent source, and one can learn a lot about EBM when studying it. But there is a problem: FAMs don’t seem to really study it (alternatively they do not have the power of comprehension to […]
Read the rest here: Insisting on evidence in alternative medicine is hypocritical, isn’t it?

EU Launching New Health Award for NGOs Working on Vaccination

Vytenis Andriukaitis, aka Facepalm Man and Seat 123, has a lot to say about the harm anti-vaccination activists do:

In papers today: #Measles epidemic in Italy. 1st measles death in Portugal. Measles rise in Germany. Deplorable. Shame on you #antivaxers! pic.twitter.com/OvSuHmHHHw

— Vytenis Andriukaitis (@V_Andriukaitis) 20 April 2017

UniMed Cult Cartel – Naming Names | Universal Medicine SCAM Exposed

Universal Medicine Affiliated Medical Professionals, Allied Health Professionals, Complementary Health Practitioners, Unqualified ‘Healers’, Meditation groups & businesses referring to UM practitioners

Practitioners and groups listed are recruiters for the Universal Medicine Cult. Unqualified ‘healers’ listed believe themselves to be accredited ‘Esoteric Healing’ practitioners through Universal Medicine’s bogus accreditation body, the Esoteric Practitioners’ Association...

Read on: UniMed Cult Cartel – Naming Names | Universal Medicine SCAM Exposed

Harms of Nonpharmacologic Therapies

The new guidelines by the American College of Physicians entitled ‘Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians’ have already been the subject of the previous post. Today, I want to have a closer look at a small section of these guidelines which, I think, […]

Read the rest here: Harms of Nonpharmacologic Therapies

Acupuncture for back pain: an open letter by a Canadian therapist

Concerned about the new ACP guidelines on ‘Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians’, Andrea MacGregor asked me to publish her ‘open letter’:

I am a student about to graduate and register as a massage therapist in Canada, and I am writing to […]

Read the rest here: Acupuncture for back pain: an open letter by a Canadian therapist

The harm and hypocrisy of Gwyneth Paltrow and GOOP distilled to 1 image | Dr. Jen Gunter

GOOP is obviously oblivious to the fact that alcohol is carcinogenic. Don’t know or don’t care? Probably don’t care to know as talking about the health risks of alcohol interferes with their brand of wasted worried wellness. GOOP needs you afraid of fake toxins, not real ones. Unlike facts alcohol has a prominent position on GOOP...

 Read the full post: The harm and hypocrisy of Gwyneth Paltrow and GOOP distilled to 1 image | Dr. Jen Gunter