Trick or Treatment 713
brothke writes "The recent collapse of financial companies occurred in part because their operations were
run like a black box. For
many years, alternative medicine has similarly operated in the shadows with
its own set of black boxes. In Trick or Treatment: The
Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine, Simon Singh and
Edzard Ernst, MD, break open that box, and show with devastating clarity and
accuracy, that the box is for the most part empty." Keep reading for the rest of Ben's review.
I first encountered co-author Simon Singh at the
2005 RSA
Conference. In his
presentation, he included a demonstration of the human brains unique
capability for pattern matching when specific patterns are expected, and used
Led Zeppelins Stairway to Heaven as an
example. Stairway has long been rumored to have
subliminal satanic messages. When played backwards,
it is impossible to decipher any message. But when
the message is known in advance, one can then hear
the message imploring the listener to go to Satans tool shed.
Once Singh put the subliminal lyrics on the overhead, the
subliminal message was now clear, not due to a subliminal message, rather via
pattern matching.
Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine | |
author | Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst |
pages | 352 |
publisher | W. W. Norton |
rating | 9 |
reviewer | Ben Rothke |
ISBN | 978-0393066616 |
summary | Peels away the fallacies of acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine |
While no reasonable person can believe in Stairways subliminal lyrics, far too many people do believe in equally implausible things in the realm of alternative medicine. In the book, the authors tackle four main areas: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and herbal medicine. The books conclusion is that acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic are essentially worthless, while herbal medicine has limited value.
Chapter 1 starts with an overview of evidence-based medicine (EBM), of which the authors are staunch believers. EBM applies evidence gained via the scientific method and assesses the quality of the evidence relevant to the risks and benefits of the treatments. The foundation of EBM is the systematic review of evidence for particular treatments via mainly randomized controlled trials. In the chapter, the authors reiterate the concept that the plural of anecdote is not data. Acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic have plenty of first-person anecdotes, but a lack of controlled studies with real data to back up their spurious claims.
EBM shows that homeopathy and other bogus cures are of no value, yet the public is oblivious to those facts. In a piece I wrote on this topic, New York News Radio" The voice of bad science, its shows that cheap radio advertising (with its mishmash of pseudo-scientific claims) combined with a public that is ignorant of basic scientific facts, creates a perfect storm for the continuation of homeopathy and other bogus cures.
A recurring theme the book stresses is that acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic and other alternative therapies are scientifically impossible, and often will violate fundamental scientific principles. A perfect example of this implausibility is with homeopathy. Contrary to what common sense and basic science, in homeopathy, a solution that is more diluted is considered stronger and as having a higher potency. The issue is that the end result is a product that is so diluted, that its contents when in solid form is pure sugar, and when in liquid form; 100% H20. When a homeopathic liquid is in its most diluted state, there is not a single molecule of the active ingredient. Therein lays the scientific implausibility of homeopathy.
Chapter 1 also asks one of the books fundamental questions: how do you determine the truth? The authors answer that it is via the scientific method. This is determined only after strict and careful analysis of a clinical study, of which the most effective is double-blind and randomized.
In chapter 3, the book jokingly notes that since homeopathic liquid remedies are so diluted that they contain only water; their only use would be for dehydration. And since homeopathy is based on the fact that the strength of a remedy is based on its dilution, one could conceivably overdose on a homeopathic remedy by forgetting to take a dose.
The chapter concludes with perhaps the strongest indictment against homeopathy; namely its content. If one looks at the content of oscillococcinum, a homeopathic alternative marketed to relieve influenza-like symptoms, the packaging states that each gram of medication contains 0.85 grams of sucrose and 0.15 grams of lactose. Sucrose and lactose are simply forms of sugar, of which oscillococcinum is nothing more than am expensive sugar pill.
In chapter 4, the authors write that while homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo, the added danger with it is that patients will often forgo real medications to take a homeopathic one. It reports of a study in Britain, which demonstrated that the most benign alternative medicine can become dangerous if the therapist who administers it advises a patient not to follow an effective conventional medical treatment. The study demonstrated that alternative medical practitioners often recommend homeopathic remedies for malaria, and ignore proven conventional medicines. Such an approach can often mean a death sentence for the person taking the homeopathic remedy.
Chapter 5 deals with herbal medicine. The chapter is somewhat different in that the previous chapters about acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic showed them to be useless, herbal medicine does have value. The book notes that herbal medicine has been embraced by science to a far greater extent than acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractics. The chapter lists over 30 herbal medicines and their levels of efficacy. An irony of herbal medicine is that some exotic ones, such as those with tiger bone or rhino horn are pushing the species to the brink of extinction, due to their level of popularity in certain parts of the world.
Chapter 5 concludes with on why smart people believe such odd things? Alternative medicine has failed to deliver the health benefits that it claims, so why are millions of patients wasting their money and risking their lives by turning towards a snake-oil industry? The authors provide numerous reasons for this, from the concepts such as natural, traditional and holistic, to attacks on the scientific method by the alternative medical community and more.
The appendix is a rapid guide to alternative therapies and lists over 30 new treatments with their benefits and potential dangers. The appendix gives single page summaries of the plethora other alternative therapies, from ear candles, colonic irrigation, reiki, to leech therapy and more. The authors write that most of these are bogus, many violate fundamental laws of sciences, and but a few have real, but limited value.
Alternative medicine operates in the shadows, blithely touting that their products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and that they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. While these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease; consumers nonetheless spends billions of dollars per year on unproven supplements. Consumers can be quite fickle. On one side they are furious at the SEC for their lack of oversight around Madoff Investments Securities. Yet when the FDA requires products use their disclaimer of how ineffective the item is, consumers will throw billions of dollars on ineffective products.
Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine is an incredibly important and eye-opening book. While Singh is a physicist and Ernst a medical doctor, the book is written in a clear and compelling style, avoids technical jargon, and sticks to the facts. In the spirit of the scientific method, the authors scrutinize alternative and complementary cures and the results show that the snake oil is still selling.
Ben Rothke is the author of Computer Security: 20 Things Every Employee Should Know.
You can purchase Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews — to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
But I *know* alternative medicine is real!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Exploitations? (Score:4, Funny)
Essentially taking money from people who want to believe.
I find it ironic that this book seeks to take money from people who _don't_ want to believe.
Re:But I *know* alternative medicine is real!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:But I *know* alternative medicine is real!!! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Chiropractic treatment worked for me (Score:5, Funny)
I had a serious fall when skiing in february. A muscle in my back was so sore that I could not tie my own shoelaces or sit down without severe pain.
After having consulted three different medical doctors who all told me to just go home and lie down and just wait for the pain to go away I consulted a chiropractic. He was able to make some of the pain disappear immediately.
So I have to say that for me at least it worked. YMMV.
My doctor, Johnny Walker, MD, can do better than that. His assistant, Jack Daniels, does a pretty good job too of relaxing muscles. Dr. Jim Beam, on the other hand, I never got along with him. And when times are hard, like now, I get it on with the Blue Nun - yeah, I'm a perv. Now, I heard of this Russian guy, Smirnoff, I think, who can do a good job too. Some folks prefer to go with a laymen with some military training. They like Captain Morgan. I don't know about the Captain. Too each his own.
Now, I have to go to my Canadian Club to relax.
Re:We already knew this (Score:5, Funny)
You mean my holiday turkey is turning me into a lawless junkie?
Re:Herbal medicine has limited value (Score:3, Funny)
"I mean, drug companies don't tend to release actively harmful substances with no medicinal value."
OMG, thanks you, I nearly pissed myself from laughter at that.
Don't forget the 'call your doctor immediately if you have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours'.
I hope the doctor is hawt.
Re:Herbal medicine has limited value (Score:3, Funny)
Coming in the mail is one of the few offenses that will get you fired from the Post Office.
Re:Herbal medicine has limited value (Score:2, Funny)
The thing that bothers me somewhat is the 'herbal = good' message that herbal medicine promotes.
It's not just the herbal = good, it's the level of BS so prevalent in much of it. What cracked me up recently was a label on a Burt's Bees product.
"Chemical free" the label touts. Errrrrrrrrrrrrruh???
Stop me if I'm going too fast, but if it really is "chemical free" what's in it?
Re:What is the Selection Criteria? (Score:4, Funny)
We need a way to exploit lethal gullibility prior to the propagation of those genes into the gene pool.
I know, we'll market a homeopathic contraceptive! ... oh wait
Re:Exploitations? (Score:5, Funny)
> Remember, guys, for doctors, your symptoms are a matter of trial and error.
> The usual way to treat people is to go through every medication until you find
> one that helps
Um, no.
First you insult the black guy. Then you belittle the white guy and make crude remarks toward the hot chick. If you're in season 4, you also insult the brown guy whilst proclaiming his genius.
Then you hold a "differential diagnosis" and write stuff on the white board.
Finally, you pop some pills, call the patient a liar, piss off your boss, annoy your only friend, and only THEN do you start trial-and-error treatment.
Geez. Don't you people know ANYTHING about medicine?
Re:Exploitations? (Score:2, Funny)
That's why I pray my way to good health and donate to my church instead.
I've been thinking a lot about this religious business, and I reached the conclusion that the only logical thing is to try to give my God all the possible advantage against all the other gods. That's why I only sacrifice the finest anabolic steroids and whey powders to my God, while all the idiots in the world light candles and pray to their gods. When the time comes for a heavenly fight for health energy points, my beefed up God will swiftly terminate all the other gods with extreme prejudice, and ensure a good supply of health energy points to secure my health and well being. See, that's what we smart people call forward thinking good planning.
Re:But I *know* alternative medicine is real!!! (Score:5, Funny)
Critics say the box is empty, but it simply appears that way because we do not have the scientific instruments available to measure the esoteric energies therein. If you become attuned to these forces, you will know the truth.
(that was meant as sarcasm, but it is scary how much it sounds like I am drinking their flavor of kool-aid)
Like the gremlins under my desk, I believe strongly in the scientific method ;)
Re:It isn't all a trick (Score:3, Funny)
So it looks as if acupuncture is an effective painkiller, but not for the reasons stated.
Because once you've had someone stab you with dozens of needles, whatever pain you were experiencing doesn't seem so bad by comparison.
I often do the same thing. When someone complains about a headache, I kick em in the junk, and the headache no longer bothers them. I can't get anyone to pay me for that, though. Maybe if I use some crystals or invoke eastern mysticism somehow I can start getting paid for administering treatment.
Re:Exploitations? (Score:5, Funny)
Hey, but in the fourth season your boss does a strip dance (man, she's hot), so it's all good.
Re:Chiropractic treatment worked for me (Score:3, Funny)
I agree -- I once had pinkeye. My eye doctor told me that I would have to take eye drops for a couple of weeks before the irritation would go away, and that I might experience irritation again a year or two down the road if I continued using my eyes. Screw that! I contacted a surgeon and had him remove my eyes completely; I haven't had any eye issues since.
Re:Exploitations? (Score:2, Funny)
"Fraud" suggests deliberate untruth, which I don't think is the case.