What do you think is the best beauty product out there? The one that science has shown has the greatest impact on your health? The one with tested rejuvenating powers? The one the evidence says, “Buy it, use it, and you will see the difference”? Is it Retin-A? Coconut oil? Kakadu plum? Listen to this … Continue reading
Tag Archives: miracle cures
Follow-Up on the Makayla Sault/J.J./Hippocrates Health Institute Case: J.J. Went Back to Chemo
Finally, two items of good news come out of this dreadful affair in which Aboriginal families stopped chemotherapeutic treatment for their leukemic daughters and sought nonsensical pseudoscientific treatment in Florida. While one of the children passed away this winter, the other, known in the media as “J.J.”, is being reported as feeling well. Could it … Continue reading
“A little research” doesn’t cut it: Quack medicine speaks in Northwest Territories
After being accused by a magazine of promoting “disproven and discredited therapy systems” at their conference, the organizers of the Northwest Territories Wellness Conference (taking place this weekend) used the old “complementary” trope to excuse their choices. Indeed, a cursory look at their schedule reveals workshops with the following descriptive phrases: “how to use local plants … Continue reading
R.I.P. Makayla Sault
The First Nations girl with leukaemia who had refused to continue her course of chemotherapy and instead elected to be treated with blatant pseudoscience in Florida has passed away. She was 11 years old when the story was first reported half a year ago. The typical question one gets when criticizing wishful thinking and pseudoscience is, … Continue reading
Listen: Dr. Christopher Labos and I on the Rise of Integrative Medicine
This month, Within Reason tackles a scientific topic, so I can publicize it here! Woohoo! Would you like a side of magic with your chemo? Disproven folk remedies used to be the domain of snake oil salesmen; now, they are being integrated into university health centres. Jonathan speaks to Dr. Christopher Labos, a public science educator and … Continue reading
Comedy Quiz Show on Pseudoscience in Montreal
If you like this blog and would like to see me host a comedy quiz show on pseudoscience, come to Pub St-Paul on Sunday, November 16 at 5PM for a fun evening of comedy, reason, and alcohol! Andrew Cody, from Within Reason, will be a panelist and will be joined by Montreal-based stand-up comedians Darren Henwood, … Continue reading
A Cure for AIDS that Big Pharma Doesn’t Want! Sounds Familiar?
I was sent a link to the following story by someone who wanted my opinion on it. The article is in French but I will highlight its claims. “Son remède contre le sida, les labos n’en veulent pas” Translation: “Labs don’t want his AIDS remedy.” This is yet another David-versus-Goliath “news” report on a maverick … Continue reading
Read: The Med Student Who Wants to Bring Down Dr. Oz
A very interesting read. Some physicians have had enough of Dr. Oz’s pseudoscience and its effect on their patients. “‘Dr. Oz has something like 4-million viewers a day,’ Mazer told Vox. ‘The average physician doesn’t see a million patients in their lifetime. That’s why organized medicine should be taking action.’ “Last year, Mazer brought a policy … Continue reading
Read and Watch: Dr. Oz and the Senator Who Finally Confronted Him
There isn’t much to say. Science-Based Medicine is an excellent medical blog and they do a great job of summarizing what happened when Dr. Oz, purveyor of miracle weight loss supplements, got grilled by Senator McCaskill on the topic of weight loss scam. There is even a clip of it from C-SPAN. And yes. It … Continue reading
It’s All in Your Head: A Statement on Which Both Christian Scientists and I Can Agree
Out of curiosity, I ask the woman I have been speaking to for a minute about the “Science” in “Christian Science”. She approached me at the end of the talk because the presenter had asked everyone in the room to introduce oneself to a stranger and talk about one’s inner qualities. I don’t remember if … Continue reading
Cracked Science 
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