Faith healing is based on belief and is about as far as you can get from science-based medicine, but it is not exempt from science. If it really worked, science would be able to document its cures and would be the only reliable way to validate its effectiveness. Miraculous cures… read more "Faith Healing"
The Water Cure: Another Example of Self Deception and the “Lone Genius”
A correspondent wrote: I hear all day long on my local radio station commercials for The Water Cure, which was created by a Dr. Batmangelli (I have no idea how to spell his name) promising wonderful cures by eliminating caffeine and alcohol and drinking water and sprinkling sea salt on… read more "The Water Cure: Another Example of Self Deception and the “Lone Genius”"
Osteoporosis Drugs: Good Medicine or Big Pharma Scam?
A recent story on NPR accused the drug manufacturer Merck of inventing a disease, osteopenia, in order to sell its drug Fosamax. It showed how the definition of what constitutes a disease evolves, and the role that drug companies can play in that evolution. Osteoporosis is a reduction in bone… read more "Osteoporosis Drugs: Good Medicine or Big Pharma Scam?"
What Is Naturopathy?
When people ask me “What is naturopathy?” I have never been able to give a good concise answer. I can confidently explain what acupuncture, chiropractic and homeopathy are all about, but naturopathy has eluded me. I have finally realized that it’s not my fault. The whole concept is so ill-conceived… read more "What Is Naturopathy?"
Aspartame: Safe Sweetener or Perilous Poison?
Aspartame is a low calorie sugar substitute marketed under brand names like Equal and Nutrasweet. It is a combination of two amino acids: L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. It is available as individual packets for adding to foods and it is a component of many diet soft drinks and other reduced-calorie… read more "Aspartame: Safe Sweetener or Perilous Poison?"
Genomic Testing – Are We There Yet?
Ten years ago the Human Genome Project reported the complete sequencing of human DNA, one of the greatest accomplishments of modern science. Having a map of our genome opens the door to exciting new possibilities for medical research and personalized medicine. Futurist Ray Kurzweil predicted “Genomics testing may soon be… read more "Genomic Testing – Are We There Yet?"
Boost My Immune System? No Thanks!
Do our immune systems need help? Walk into any health foods store. Browse the Internet. You will find a multitude of diet supplements advertised to “boost your immune system,” or “support immune function.” Do they work? Will they keep you healthier or reduce your chances of catching infectious diseases? A… read more "Boost My Immune System? No Thanks!"
Science in the Spirit of Mythbusters
We skeptics spend a lot of time critiquing non-science and too little time promoting science itself. Science is awe-inspiring and fun, and any effort to communicate that to our children is worthwhile. A new book by Sean Connolly, The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science: 50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists,… read more "Science in the Spirit of Mythbusters"
The Living Matrix: A Pseudoscientific Infomercial for Energy Medicine
The Living Matrix: A Film on the New Science of Healing is an atrociously bad movie that falls squarely in the tradition of What the Bleep Do We Know? In his book Nonsense on Stilts, Massimo Pigliucci characterized the “Bleep” movie as “one of the most spectacular examples of a… read more "The Living Matrix: A Pseudoscientific Infomercial for Energy Medicine"
The One True Cause of All Disease
Alternative practitioners constantly claim that conventional medicine treats only symptoms while they treat underlying causes. They’ve got it backwards. Chiropractors, homeopaths, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and other alternative medicine practitioners constantly criticize conventional medicine for “only treating the symptoms,” while alternative medicine allegedly treats “the underlying causes” of disease. Nope. Not true.… read more "The One True Cause of All Disease"