Down the Rabbit Hole
Looking over Netflix' recommendations I bumped into the documentary Hoxsey: How Healing Becomes a Crime.
In the 1920's, Harry Hoxsey came up with an unorthodox cancer therapy, composed of wild plants and home remedies.
I'd never heard of this guy, but he has quite a following, even today [well, he's dead (from cancer, natch) but you can still get his therapy at his clinic in Tijuana]. Although the Wikipedia page is pretty skeptical, Googling produces a lot of hits from believer sites. The Amazon page is almost all glowing reviews, and the lone 1-star reviewer gets piled on by 6 comments accusing him of being a shill for the great medical conspiracy. Most of the Netflix reviews are 5 stars, with huge upvotes, and one 1-star review that 1 of 3 found helpful.
And sadly, it looks like a pretty complete scam. "In 1956, the FDA sent an investigator to Hoxsey's clinic posing as a patient. The investigator was told by Hoxsey's clinic that he had cancer (he did not), and that it would take a "long time" to cure him." It's just about the same story as the psychics who will cure you from that curse that's on you; all you have to do is bury a huge pile of cash. Except, of course, that some of these people really do have cancer, and forgoing standard medical treatment can be detrimental.
Yes, yes, I'm a shill for the AMA.
In the 1920's, Harry Hoxsey came up with an unorthodox cancer therapy, composed of wild plants and home remedies.
I'd never heard of this guy, but he has quite a following, even today [well, he's dead (from cancer, natch) but you can still get his therapy at his clinic in Tijuana]. Although the Wikipedia page is pretty skeptical, Googling produces a lot of hits from believer sites. The Amazon page is almost all glowing reviews, and the lone 1-star reviewer gets piled on by 6 comments accusing him of being a shill for the great medical conspiracy. Most of the Netflix reviews are 5 stars, with huge upvotes, and one 1-star review that 1 of 3 found helpful.
And sadly, it looks like a pretty complete scam. "In 1956, the FDA sent an investigator to Hoxsey's clinic posing as a patient. The investigator was told by Hoxsey's clinic that he had cancer (he did not), and that it would take a "long time" to cure him." It's just about the same story as the psychics who will cure you from that curse that's on you; all you have to do is bury a huge pile of cash. Except, of course, that some of these people really do have cancer, and forgoing standard medical treatment can be detrimental.
Yes, yes, I'm a shill for the AMA.