This article can be found at Quackwatch.com. It is important to me to get out information on what constitutes as alternative medicine and why it can be fraudulent. Consumers need to be aware. You will inevitably come across those that promote cures for cancer and other ailments.
In the article Steven Barrett, MD classifies Alternative medicine in three different ways:
- Genuine -- these alternatives have met science based criteria for safety and effectiveness
- Experimental -- these alternatives are unproven but have a plausible rationale and are undergoing responsible investigation.
- Questionable -- these alternatives are groundless and lack a scientifically plausible rationale.
Another way Dr. Barrett describes the different alternatives methods are:
- Those that work
- Those that don't work
- Those we are not sure about
Most of the alternatives fall into the --Those we are not sure about category.
.
Under the rules of science, those that make claims bear the burden of proof. It is their responsibility to conduct suitable studies and report them in sufficient detail to permit evaluation and confirmation by others. Some alternative advocates want to change the rules. Alternative promoters may regard personal experience, subjective judgment, and emotional satisfaction as proof of their product being effective. They rely on these methods without conducting scientific studies, they use anecdotes and testimonials as evidence.
It is important to be aware and investigate and research any alternative methods that may spark your interest. You don't want to cause harm to yourself, waste money on products or methods that do not do what they claim.
Just remember that anecdotes and testimonials are not evidence of a product or service being effective.
1. Of course chemo treatments have never been subject to double blind studies that conform to the "gold standard" of western medicine, which is to say that chemo treatments have only been studied against other chemo treatments without a neutral control. So, by the criteria of this blogger, chemo is an questionable treatment.
Well that's one thing right.
My main concern here is the source, quackwatch, which is as nutty as squirrel poo.
Jeff
Posted at 12:12PM on Aug 7th 2007 by jeff Friesen