Acupuncture.
There’s this model we use in modern medicine where a treatment modality is scrutinized by randomized, placebo-controlled trials which are then peer-reviewed, analyzed with statistics methodologies to sort out any confounding variables, trials repeated in larger groups, then safety/efficacy is determined and larger population studies are done. In some cases this means releasing products to the general public with “only” a few thousand test subjects. If a favorable safety/efficacy profile is established, maybe tens of thousands of people start using the product and THEN adverse reactions start popping up.
Baycol, a GREAT lipid-profile modifying agent (statin) was taken off the market by Bayer around 2001 because people were dying while taking it AND another, triglyceride-controlling agent. Nobody thought to test the two together. Bayer saw the hordes of lawyers slavering off in the distance and withdrew the medicine - as safe as it was.
What about acupuncture? 5500 studies that I’ve read about - worldwide. NIH has reems of data. Data collated, reviewed, studies designed, data gathered, sorted, analysed, meta-analysed, even a few “janitor studies” thrown in (janitors, given a white coat, are told to go stick needles in patients and, the metric of “patient satisfaction” being the only thing which can be assessed, people still “feel better” while nothing’s demonstrably, measurably, cured). My dentist insists it’s like electrical circuits, swears by it, but agrees he’d rather have a nerve block for a root canal than acupuncture. Go figure. High colonics, coffee enemas, ear candling, “Oxygen bars” anyone?
Fake “medicine,” based upon false premises, lack of understanding of underlying anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, but boy, do people buy a lot of it.
But you’ll rarely hear someone like me with all the right degrees “go off on” the practitioners of “magical medicine” which has no proven efficacy, just a lot of adherents.
A fool and his money, what’s the harm, youknow?
To me, this particular conversation is like listening to atheists complain about other people’s beliefs and practices in a God THEY don’t personally believe in; I still contend many atheists I’ve met in my life have a much closer relationship with a God they profess NOT to believe in than many of my fellow christians seem to have with the God they profess TO have a relationship with.
But the counterpoints are well taken. Just annoying. Let the man sell his stuff. He’s not hurting anyone. Caveat emptor, this way to the egress, there’s a sucker born every minute, and all that.
JMHO.