Re: What is Quackery?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
 John 'the Man'  <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Once upon a time, our fellow Orac
>    rambled on about "Re: What is Quackery?."
> Our champion De-Medicalizing in sci.med.nutrition retorts, thusly ...
> 
> >> I am just imitating you. :)
> 
> >Now you've really degenerated, falling into the "I know you are but what 
> >am I?" variety of retorts.
> 
> I know what I am.  :)

Sadly, I too know what you are.


> I know what natural health is, as well as what alternative medicine
> is.  :)

That is debatable, at best.


> Homeopathic writings have wrongfully given the concept of vital force
> a very bad reputation in the modern scientific community.Homeopathy
> is probably why most scientists wrongfully associate all forms of
> alternative medicine with quackery, magic and mysticism.

At least you seem to admit that homeopathy is bunk. Sadly, it's not just 
homeopathic writings, but many alternative medicine writings that use 
mysticism and the "vital force." Particularly egregious are the ones 
that use the immune system as a thinly-veiled surrogate for the "vital 
force." It's easy to recognize them. The writers never actually point 
out exactly what cells of the immune system are "strengthened" by the 
alternative treatment or how. They never give descriptions of how these 
treatments work that demonstrate the least understanding of how the 
immune system does actually work. They just claim that disease is due to 
a "weakened" immune system (ignoring, of course, the observation that 
many diseases are due to an excessive response of the immune system to 
various stimuli) and that their remedy "strengthens it." Glowlife Dave 
is an excellent example.


> You are simply WRONG.  :)

If I am wrong, unless you show yourself able to step beyond sloganeering 
and up to the discussion of actual scientific data, it's become clear 
that you're not the one who will be able to convince me of it. In the 
meantime, you've just shown a rather astounding ignorance of what your 
own allies, alt-med proponents, actually write on their websites.


> And, it is about time that you figured it out.

Show me if you can.

-- 
Orac        |"A statement of fact cannot be insolent."
            |
            |"If you cannot listen to the answers, why do you
            | inconvenience me with questions?"