most recent 30 from http://www.skepticexchange.org 2010-09-05T22:53:32Z http://www.skepticexchange.org/feeds/tag/alt-medicines http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/778/what-is-ayur-veda-is-it-pseudo-science-or-pre-science Mark Z. 2010-03-31T20:18:17Z 2010-04-14T19:01:02Z

<p>Just today, an Indian friend of mine asked me what I thought of Ayur Veda as I've established myself quite strongly as "The Skeptic" among my colleagues at university. I don't know what she wanted to hear as my answer was perfectly predictable: "I don't really know about it, but if it's not proven scientifically, I'm gonna stay away from it."<br> We didn't get into much of an argument but she did spark my interest and so I ask here: What is Ayur Veda? Is it truly pseudo-science, like Homeopathy, or is it pre-scientific (I mean unproven and/or unrefined)?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/255/differences-between-nutritionist-and-dietitian rjstelling 2010-01-05T23:40:06Z 2010-04-04T19:44:55Z

<p>What are the main differences between a trained Dietitian and Nutritionist? Or are they two words for the same profession?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/657/should-placebos-be-regulated-and-or-prescribed Skrivener 2010-03-06T20:47:34Z 2010-03-14T21:08:44Z

<p>I heard recently on a podcast (sorry, I can't recall which) a member of the skeptical community suggesting that treatments that are only as effective as placebos, such as homeopathy, should be regulated and available. What do you think? Should placebos be available as a regulated treatment?</p> <p>What if placebos were available as an officially labeled placebo treatment? Cases might include sugar pills sold in a chemist under the product title 'Placebo', or alt-med treatments such as homeopathy or acupuncture where appropriate signage or consent forms might be required. What about if such treatments were (only?) prescribed by medical professionals, who would clearly tell their patients what they were getting?</p> <blockquote> <p>"Mrs. Jonson, your ankle pain doesn't appear to be the result of a serious medical condition, but I see the discomfort it's causing you. Let's try a placebo treatment and see how you respond. The treatment itself won't directly alleviate any symptoms, but you may find it helps you feel better. I'll write you a prescription, and let's make a follow-up appointment in a week, and see how you're doing."</p> </blockquote> <p>Is there any research on whether placebos are less effective if the recipient knows it's a placebo? Are there any ethical questions? The speaker noted that doctors essentially prescribe placebos all the time, for example antibiotics for an infection they are sure is viral in nature.</p> <p>I would be particularly interested in the opinion of health professionals.</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/644/what-is-the-bowen-technique Hayley Stevens 2010-03-04T22:52:21Z 2010-03-05T13:30:47Z

<p>I know that the Bowen technique is supposedly a soft tissue remedial therapy, named after its innovator Tom Bowen and involves the therapist using fingers or thumbs to move over muscle, ligament tendon on the body.</p> <p>I was wondering if anybody knew anything more about how, if at all, it works. Any dangers associated with it etc.</p> <p>Any articles or related studies would be wonderful if they could be provided as I am trying to provide a skeptical POV of the Bowen technqiue to a friend of mine whose mother it considering it for treating her cancer in the US. I'm highly skeptical that it will work and really want to find out. </p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/628/does-eating-fish-increase-testostorone Zach 2010-02-25T17:56:27Z 2010-02-27T18:37:07Z

<p>I was wondering if there is any research or biological plausibility to eating fish can increase your testostorone.</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/444/competition-good-examples-of-the-scale-of-dilution-in-homeopathy rjstelling 2010-01-27T14:37:04Z 2010-02-14T21:15:30Z

<p>Does any one have (or can work out) some fun and easy to remember examples of how diluted a homeopathy remedy is.</p> <p>The below example is fine written down but not easy to explain over the phone or in an interview.</p> <blockquote> <p>Taking a single drop of caffeine and diluting in ninety-nine drops of water creates what is known to homeopaths as one 'centesimal'. One drop of this centesimal added to another ninety-nine drops of water produces a two-centesimal, written as 2C. This 2C caffeine potion is 99.99% water and just 0.01% caffeine. At 3C the dilution is 0.0001% caffeine, at 4C it's 0.000001% caffeine, and so on. Homeopathic remedies are commonly sold at 6C (0.000 000 000 1%) and even 30C (0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1%) dilutions, which homeopaths will often drip onto little balls of sugar to sell. — <a href="http://www.1023.org.uk/what-is-homeopathy.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.1023.org.uk/what-is-homeopathy.php</a></p> </blockquote> <p>Some thing involving phrases like "all the stars in the universe", to emphasise <a href="http://www.1023.org.uk" rel="nofollow">"there's nothing in it"</a>.</p> <p><strong>Competition</strong></p> <p>The best analogy as judged by myself and some other leading skeptics from the <a href="http://www.1023.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">10:23 Campaign</a> will win a <strong>LIMITED EDITION</strong> t-shirt and 100 <a href="http://exchange.bristolskeptics.co.uk/faq#reputation" rel="nofollow">reputation points</a>.</p> <p><strong>Update:</strong> The winner will also get a name check on <a href="http://www.ripodcast.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Righteous Indignation</a>!</p> <p><img src="http://img154.yfrog.com/img154/2973/vmhc.jpg" alt="Homeopathy: There's nothing in it" /></p> <p>We'll be looking for; humour, originality, succinctness and above all accuracy.</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/400/why-do-we-use-the-term-alternative-medicine Skrivener 2010-01-22T19:13:32Z 2010-02-03T20:21:46Z

<p>We use "pseudoscience", not "alternative science", so why "alternative medicine"? Wouldn't it be more reflective and better PR-wise to use "pseudomedicine"? Is there a factual difference that makes this incorrect?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/508/is-it-wrong-to-be-aginst-a-politician-for-just-being-an-acupuncturist jehovahgodofgaps 2010-02-01T22:25:49Z 2010-02-02T00:20:04Z

<p>Is it wrong to be aginst a Politician for just being an acupuncturist? </p> <p>The person who is running for state senate in my district is a practicing acupuncturist. also what would you do or ask this person at a town hall like meeting. </p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/395/whats-the-harm-in-homeopathy rjstelling 2010-01-22T01:21:38Z 2010-01-28T22:14:07Z

<p>If Homeopathic remedies contain no active ingredients and provide the user with a positive placebo effect, then what is the harm?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/273/what-is-a-nosode rjstelling 2010-01-08T13:37:17Z 2010-01-27T20:11:50Z

<p>Homeopathy literature like to compare <strong>Nosode</strong> remedies with traditional vaccinations, does this have any validity?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/435/brewers-yeast-incenct-repellent jehovahgodofgaps 2010-01-26T05:33:38Z 2010-01-27T02:40:05Z

<p>I have a co-worker who says he takes Brewers Yeast to make his blood bitter to bugs to reduce insect bits. where does this idea come from and is there any studies positive or negative.</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/302/homeopathy-a-trail-blazing-industry Cottonsocks 2010-01-11T14:57:37Z 2010-01-26T02:46:08Z

<p>Assuming homeopathy could be true via the explaintion of "water memory", what other applications could it have?</p> <p>if a homeopathic medicine is a small dose of a certain subsance (a drop in a swimming pool is the dosage is it not?) could we not put one litre of anti-malaria drugs in the water supply of africa and asia?</p> <p>What other uses would there be? because if homeopathy was true, surely there would be other "water memory" based industries?</p> <p>Is this a good agrument to get to the layman to highlight homeopathy's downfalls?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/327/how-are-homeopathic-tablets-made Yossarian 2010-01-14T22:43:53Z 2010-01-22T16:47:48Z

<p>I understand what the theory of water memory prescribes, but how is the watered down solution put into pill form? </p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/272/what-homeopathic-credentials-and-or-certifications-are-there rjstelling 2010-01-08T13:28:08Z 2010-01-09T12:46:10Z

<p>Do you need any specific degrees, credentials or certifications to call your self a Homeopath?</p>

http://www.skepticexchange.org/questions/133/masking-symptons-in-alternative-medicine Deenie 2009-12-12T15:03:29Z 2009-12-17T17:27:12Z

<p>I've been reading a lot about alternative medicines lately, and I keep coming across the idea that modern medicine only "masks" symptoms rather than "treating the entire problem." It sounds like just more BS to justify their methods, but I'd like to understand the basic idea better. I can't wrap my head around this - what exactly do they mean by "masking"? </p>