Quackery of all kinds

[erunyauve_e]

Saturday, 10 am MST. Still tragically unmotivated. May take nap.

A co-worker recently told me about her experience with ionic footbaths. I'm too polite to suggest that the money would be better spent on a science class, but I was curious as to how the scam worked. It turns out that these things are not only worthless, but possibly harmful:"By

Comments

[tehta]

I once offended a friend horribly when she said something about natural plant extracts being somuch healthier than chemicals and I brought up plant-based poisons, and also the fact that EVERYTHING is chemicals. Which may have been tactless of me, but really.

[erunyauve_e]

and also the fact that EVERYTHING is chemicals. Which may have been tactless of me, but really

That's a pet peeve of mine - the whole, 'but it's full of chemicals OMG!' attitude.

[anna_wing]

I rather favour "alternative" therapies, no matter how wacky,on the ground that it is a morally permissible (because voluntary and self-inflicted) way of culling the weak-minded. But of course, if such regimens are being inflicted on helpless children who cannot protest or demand redress, it is another matter.

As for the virtues of "natural" substances, I agree with tehta. "Nature" is red in tooth and claw, as anyone who owns cats will know. Strychnine is a perfectly natural substance, which doesn't mean that it is good for one's health.

[erunyauve_e]

on the ground that it is a morally permissible (because voluntary and self-inflicted) way of culling the weak-minded

Heh - I sort of feel the same way - if people want to rely on some miracle cure for their disease, that's their choice. It's a problem, though, when we start talking about the environment and public policy. I've known quite a few people active in environmental groups whose knowledge of science could fit in a walnut - these are not the people I want speaking for me when the legislature is debating issues.