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Seems like there is a new snake-oil cure, stop balding serum, or weight loss scam every day. Which of them do you think is the most egregious in terms of wide-spread acceptance, financial harm, and/or physical harm? I have a few examples in mind, but I'll put them in answers so they can be voted on. |
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Taking people's money, or selling a false hope, is unethical etc. but it pails in comparison to 'treatements' that discourage people from seeking proper medical help. Homeopathy alongside science based medecine may sound 'ridiculous' to some sceptics, but it isn't harmful. Homeopathy INSTEAD of science based medecine is dangerous, potentialy fatal, e.g. this case: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/28/homeopathy-baby-death-couple-jailed faith healing by groups such as christian scientists at the expense of true scientific remedy is of course equally dangerous in this sense. These are the egrerious medical scams that make sceptical thinking and support for the scientific community so important. |
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Homeopathy.... hands down. Nothing is more rediculous. |
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Faith healing. The idea that priests, prayers, religious relics or visits to holy places can cure illness is a very dangerous one, if it comes at the expense of proper medical care. |
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Vitamin MegadosageThe Wikipedia article on vitamin C megadosage is full of unsubstantiated claims. I feel this is particularly egregious because of it mainstream acceptance and lack of regulation. |
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Colon cleansing/"detox" products Acai berry-containing products Regardless of what might or not be true about whether you even need to add large amounts of anti-oxidants to your diet, acai berries and juices certainly don't represent the best gateway. From a study looking at the antioxidant "potency" of various drinks:
Note: I was lead to this source from a recent QuackWatch podcast |
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Magnetism I think this one is fairly unique in that the same nutcases that promote putting magnets in your shoes or elsewhere on your body to cure just about anything also claim that living under power lines is hazardous to your health. I suppose SOME magnetic fields are more sinister than others. |
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I too would have to put my hands up for homeopathy, but this is purely anecdotal. I honestly wouldn't really know between homeopathy, vitamin megadosing, detox, chiropractic and "all natural". Oh, and a poll can't be a poll without a PZ Myers option so add him in to that list as well. |
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I like to differentiate all treatments into two axes: helpful -- placebo -- harmful and cheap -- expensive. So, homeopathy and faith healing are cheap placebos. Chiropracty is an expensive harmful. In medicine there are lots of cheap helpful things (antibiotics with bacterial infection), cheap harmful things (antibiotics without bacterial infection), and expensive placeboes and harmfuls (arthroscopic knee surgery). So the worst things aren't just harmful, they're harmful and expensive. And I often prefer a cheap placebo (accupuncture) over an expensive helpful. |
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