Re: What is Quackery?

Dave
Been to the library yet?
Anth

"Orac" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 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?"