“Eliminating cancer” with Traditional Chinese Medicine and other state-sanctioned quackery
State-approved continuing education courses pump a steady stream of fresh pseudoscience into acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine practice. Courses include claims of "eliminating cancer" and "reversing pediatric asthma" as well as anti-vaccination tropes.
Holotropic Breathwork
Holotropic breathwork is essentially voluntary hyperventilation, and old technique gaining in popularity as a way of generating "spiritual" experiences.
“SuperMannan Cures Bladder Infections!” Really?
The ads claim SuperMannan cures bladder infections. The science is a single uncontrolled study of 9 women; its design is a recipe for disaster.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. hosts a trainwreck of an antivaccine forum in Harlem
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reached out to the African-American Community in Harlem with his antivaccine message. It didn't go so well. First, Rev. Al Sharpton, whose National Action Committee was going to host it, bailed due to negative publicity. Then RFK Jr. was kicked out of his venue during his speech because the event went way over time. RFK Jr.'s efforts do,...
Tattoos Won’t Boost Your Immune System
Can getting a tattoo help reduce your risk of catching a cold? What about getting a bunch of 'em? Sadly, no amount of ink is going to boost your immune system.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Lots of hype, no convincing evidence
Platelet-rich plasma injections are advertised as an expensive cure-all for sport injuries. The evidence, however, is consistently negative.
Reproducibility Follow Up
Let's explore dueling narratives about the reproducibility "crisis."
Australian Naturopath Barbara O’Neill Banned for Her Dangerous Health Advice
Naturopath Barbara O'Neill has been banned in Australia for spreading dangerous lies about health.
Woo versus Wikipedia
Love it or hate it, Wikipedia is a main go-to rough and ready source of information for millions of people. Although I've had my problems with Wikipedia and used to ask whether it could provide reliable information on medicine and, in particular, alternative medicine and vaccines, given that anyone can edit it, I now conclude that Wikipedia must be doing OK, at...
Electromagnetic healing devices for dogs: Studies show “Meh”
Does a pulsed electromagnetic field device work to help dogs recover from surgery? The answer is below. Spoiler alert: The answer is "probably not".
Health Narratives on Social Media