Beware Quackery

Whatever you may think of alternative health (chiropractic, acupuncture, herbal medicine, etc), I am totally on board with some aspects of it. But I also think there are a lot of completely bogus "cures" and "remedies" being peddled by quacks and snake oil salesmen out to make a buck. Sadly, because the FDA prefers to spend time approving urgently needed drugs--like Latisse, a side-effect laden topical ointment that helps grow eyelashes (because you can never have enough eyelashes, right?)--rather than researching alternative medicine, many consumers are left to fend for themselves when it comes to deciding if a alternative "cure" is legitimate and effective. And this is frequently a recipe for disaster.

Look. There are a lot of smart people out there who are very interested in pursuing alternate and/or less invasive health remedies. But there are just as many smart people out there waiting eagerly to separate you from your hard earned cash by convincing you that a) western medicine is totally bogus, b) natural medicine isn't, and c) oh, by the way, they happen to have just the "natural' thing you are looking for to help with whatever illness plagues you.

Let me say it again: I am a fan of alternative remedies when/if I can find ample studies and or personal proof that said remedies actually work. I personally am a fan of chiropractic care. It works for me. It works for my mom. It works for my husband. I also have a naturopath that my whole family sees (along with our regular mainstream doctors) who has helped us many times when the OTC and prescription stuff didn't do a damn thing. But I don't believe in the healing power of crystals, nor do I buy into faith healing, nor do I think vaccines are poisons (however I do very much question the efficacy of some vaccines, in particular the flu). And if I am ever diagnosed with cancer, my first thought won't be to run to a native American sweat lodge to detoxify my body.

So then. How does one avoid the rampant quackery and hone in on the legitimate holistic and alternative health stuff out there? Allow me to help.

1) Word of mouth is great. But only to a point. It's useful to find out what's worked for your friends and family. However if it sounds too good to be true...then it probably is. And I know you know better than to get health advice from complete strangers.

2) Researching things on the web is a useful way to find out more about specific remedies and practices. But ALWAYS proceed with caution. If, for example, you happen upon a site that peddles in paranoia and fear and miracle cures, run--don't walk--the other way. How to tell if you have found one of these sites? They typically have an "us against them" mentality and almost always are willing to sell you a variety of their own products. If you aren't sure what to look for, here is one of my favorites: http://www.mercola.com/. Mercola is, in my opinion, very dangerous because he mixes good science with bad science and ALWAYS documents his sources, leaving the reader to believe that no stone was left unturned during his research process. Also, if a site is run by a "doctor" and even if said doctor is an MD, don't assume this person knows what he/she is talking about.

3) I have found two good places for fact checking remedies. One is NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) which is run by the U.S. government (but not by the FDA) as a way to provide the public with legitimate research and studies into various alternative health claims. The other, and much more biased against holistic medicine but still well-researched and very informative, is QuackWatch.org. But take both with a grain of salt because there are no neutral parties when it comes to health.

4) Ask around and find a good naturopath. A good naturopath works closely with mainstream doctors and doesn't immediately attempt to peddle his/her remedies to you upon the first appointment. She/he should never attempt to dissuade you from seeking medical help for serious issues. I knew I'd found a great doc when she took one look at the bunion on my foot and handed me a business card for a podiotrist (who turnded out to be excellent). Trust your gut. And for God's sake, don't attempt any "do it yourself" remedies at home unless you have done the research and have the recipes and dosages for adults and children. You certainly wouldn't attempt to diagnose and then remove a cancerous skin lesion at home. So then why would you buy herbs online and brew up a potion to give to your family? Herbs are plants...and almost all western medicine (anti-depressants, anti-virals, anti-coagulants, antibiotics) are plant based and can be lethal under the right circumstances.

Keep in mind that it's very hard to find unbiased info about anything these days. For every quack health website, there is an arrogant doctor or scientist or skeptic blog eager to prove how ALL holistic medicine is utter bullshit. This can be very confusing for the lay reader who is simply looking for verifiable data as to whether or not something actually works. The fact is, western medicine...like alternative medicine...is big business. And the pharmaceutical companies have tons of money in their pockets which they don't always use in the best way possible. So while I don't believe that big pharma reps sit around in an underground conference room plotting to release the next mutant virus so they can sell more vaccines...I am under no illusions that they to are trying to make a buck off of me just like their alternative counterparts. And when you make your money off of prescription drugs and vaccines...the whole alternative medicine field is viewed very much as a competitor.

I personally think there is some legitimacy to holistic and alternative health. I encourage you to do your own research and see if it's the right thing for you. Just remember not to check your brain at the door.