QuackWatch

Posted by JD 06/27/2008 at 08:28

I caught a Penn & Teller TV show recently and they had a guy on from QuackWatch debunking alternative medicine.

For me, it is really simple. If this stuff works, where are the scientific double-blind studies proving it. The alternative medicine people always say that you are an individual and their process is tailored specifically for you. It can’t be reproduced because everyone is different. Right, sure.

I’ve heard – no article to cite here, sorry – that 50% of all ailments get better on their own. Having someone work on you and only you does feel good mentally and i believe it could be why so many illogical people are paying for these bogus services.

I have read that 50% of back pains go away after 2 years with no treatment. So, if your back hurts, going to an alternative practicioner and paying them can harm you – by keeping you away from real medicine that is proven to work. It also wastes your money and if you are part of my insurance company – my money.

TT practicioners or Therapeutic Touch did agree to a study by a then 9 year old girl. They failed the testing. They performed less than chance would have guessed. They actually did worse than flipping a coin and guessing in the test. Therapeutic touch is paid for by many insurance programs and supported by almost 100,000 nurses. It appears that not all nurses understand the scientific method. My health insurance company has that to say about it.