Mystic Holistic Mirage

Toward a Delusion-Free Society Mystic Holistic Mirage The Gary Lee The Mystic Holistic Mirage: Toward a Delusion-Free Society Copyright 2008 by Gary Lee All rights reserved. Cover and Drawings by Gary Lee No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission of the author. About the Author Gary Lee "Dealing in person for years with sometimes extreme, mystic holistic characters would motivate many people to write a book or, at the very least, an interesting diary." Gary Lee is a recovered mystic and former acupuncturist, who knows his subject well. He wrote The Mystic Holistic Mirage: Toward a Delusion-Free Society as a consequence of what he learned from Dr. Dean Edell, highlighted by the fact that, at the same time, he worked directly with clients whom had similar attitudes to the ones described by Dr. Edell. That is, he was a holistic practitioner whose work attracted mystic holistic enthusiasts. In examining the alternative perspective, he links both the all-natural and supernatural beliefs. About DR. DEAN EDELL Dr. Dean Edell with the author A former holistic doctor, the insight of Dr. Dean Edell—easily the most brilliant person in broadcasting—has helped millions. He tackles, through his ability to break down difficult subjects into plain words, the uncommon, the seldom explored and the contentious. Dr. Edell uses radio, television, and literature to educate, shatter medical myths, contest the pseudoscience and assorted irrational beliefs of a politically correct era. The fact he has been able to function freely for so long is a tribute to his daring, knowledge, and passion for the truth—particularly in light of the forces seeking to silence him. The arrival of Dr. Dean Edell in the media signaled the coming of an intelligence that is renowned among the unworthy—a level of intelligence that before had not been available to such a vast audience. Beginning his broadcasting career in 1978, Dr. Edell is currently the host of one of the most popular talk shows in syndicated radio; heard in more than 400 markets, The Dr. Dean Edell Show has informed us, entertained us, answered our questions, and guided us through an assortment of mystic holistic frauds. Dr. Edell has received an abundance of recognition over the years for his on-air work: the American Cancer Society recognition award, the American Heart Association award, the C. Everett Koop Media Awards competition, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and a national Emmy. His books, (Eat, Drink, & Be Merry: America's Doctor Tells You Why the Health Experts Are Wrong and Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Healthiness: Dr. Dean's Commonsense Guide for Anything That Ails You), are milestones in making scientific medicine comprehensible. Persons of a mystic and holistic bent deeply despise the message of Dr. Edell. However, they could hardly prevail over him in a rational debate. Mystic holistic purveyors would lead even more people down the garden path without his efforts, and this book would not be. The Toward a Delusion-Free Society Mystic Holistic Mirage By Dr. Dean Edell ‚Are you willing to fly in an alternative airplane?‛ We live in the strangest of times. We seem to be drifting in spite of our technological prowess. Today, we are still haunted by a world of superstition, demons, and countless other delusions, just as our forebears were hundreds of years ago. Otherwise intelligent and educated people fall for the most far-fetched ideas, in the areas of superstition and health. More than ever, the public is unable to distinguish the real from the unreal, and informing them of the facts has little effect— people do not care about facts anymore. Foreword , An assortment of ridiculous mystical and holistic schemes is on the march—hazards to both body and mind —fueled by an unholy alliance of promoters and scam artists. Their desire to bilk us is easy to understand, but how hard should we come down on them? The most important concern is their motivation. For example, if someone opens a faith healing clinic in the knowledge that they are bilking the many naïve and poorly educated people, then they are guilty of fraud, and must be punished. If they themselves are naïve and poorly educated, but believe that faith healing is helpful, are they as culpable as an outright scam artist? This is a tough question. In any case, our laws do little to protect us—they allow almost anything mystical that humans can conjure up—just as they allow the peddling of health products, which neither work nor are safe. Just as belief in a flat earth is alternative, anything called ‚alternative‛ sways people, even though the term is used in contrived way. More specifically, when science does not accept something, people may consider it alternative—but when something proves itself to work, science and medicine may adopt it, and no more regard it as alternative. Health beliefs have become matters of faith. Believers spew forth misinformation with religious zeal—and the public gobbles it up. Many of us regard vitamins, herbal medicine, organic food, and acupuncture as religions—that’s all—religions. Why else would we have faith in something that is not objectively real? Sentimental fantasies enamor some folks to such an extent that they put their life on the line. Study after study finds that the best selling health products, such as echinacea, saw palmetto, glucosamine, St. John’s Wort, chondroitin sulfate, and ginkgo biloba work largely as placebos, of which many can be harmful. Nonetheless, sales of these products boom. We have come so far. We have conquered many of humanity’s most dreadful scourges. All the goodies we love so much—our computers, TV’s, cars and airplanes—were borne of the scientific method. We are where we are because of the sweat and genius of those great thinkers who came before us—they who rose to the challenge, and gave us an intellectual heritage. Why would we allow this heritage to erode? Why would we abandon ship halfway through such a decisive crossing? Once we abandon the objective structure of our world, we float free—our rudders flapping aimlessly. So where do we go from here? How can we help the public wend their way through this miasma of snake oil and delusion? Remember: facts do not work anymore. Many, including myself, have tried. None of this has dampened the enthusiasm of Gary Lee, a former alternative medicine practitioner, and a man who can make a difference. Being a holistic whistleblower is one thing; it is another to communicate critical ideas in a unique and persuasive fashion, drawing on the wisdom and insight gained from such a conversion. In The Mystic Holistic Mirage, Gary weaves a seductive web. Perhaps his wit is the most disarming and believable of his talents. By absorbing his words, the way you view the world will change forever, no matter what your beliefs and habits. Still, you will need a truly objective mind to appreciate and absorb his tome, but I promise that the effort will be well worth it. Be ready to laugh at yourself, and the folly of your fellow humans. Above all, be ready for logic that is direct and eye opening. Read this book… I dare you. Dean Edell, M.D. Contents 1 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities.........1 2 Health Swingers International .......................................... 17 3 Delusion-Free Living................................................................................ 65 4 Supernal .................................................................................................................... 127 5 The collapse of reason ................................................................... 175 6 The Righteous Mental Giant.................................................... 215 7 "Shut Up and Fix Me!" .............................................................................. 237 8 The LIGHT of Science ............................................................................. 257 Toward a Delusion-Free Society Mystic Holistic Mirage The 1 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities ‚When examining the subject of alternative medicine, we will be met with tales of alternative realities before long.‛ We board a vessel assigned to an elite crew, in our journey to a land beyond the horizon. Our course is sure, because of the many eminent minds have gone before us. In time, we reach an island fortress few have seen—a realm of vast intelligence, having navigated with a sure compass, essential in traversing tempestuous seas. Now we have the chance to reflect deeply, and with new vistas in sight. 2 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities Welcome friends and citizens of the great, delusion-free society; our subject is the dense haze that shrouds our world, and how we can understand its true nature. Many encounters with mystic holistic adherents have inspired the creation of this work. Because they dream that great purity and rapture will be theirs, if we dare to question the soundness of these dreams, we are sure to meet with their contempt. Our purpose is not to portray all mystic holistic adherents in a bad light, although certain traits are common to most. We respect anyone whenever virtue prevails, for whatever genuine values they possess, while ignoring the rest. Many adherents demonstrate endearing qualities, but suffer from a famine of facts. Devotion to mystic holistic views seems to make sense to many otherwise smart, well-intentioned, and loving people. In addition, we may sometimes excuse the more amicable adherent in their formative years. In youth, we believe we know the challenges of life, and wiser adults that struggle with them cannot reach us. In due course, our youthful beliefs may give way to wiser years—then again, maybe not. Nonetheless, we take issue with the mystic holistic diehard, who tries to enforce their faith. The goal of achieving a delusion-free society is all the more difficult without people who embody the delusion-free mindset, skilled in dealing with mystic holistic passions. They make living in a world rampant with mystic holistic* fantasies bearable, due to their readiness to do what they can to part the dark clouds of unreality. People who work directly with the public have the chance to become objective students of the human condition. They enter the arena with hardly a clue of the events before them, like an inspired piece of fiction or novella. They can learn a great deal about the workings of the human world when exposed to diverse backgrounds. Years of up close work with wonderful people, reasonable people, dense people, and dreadful people, can build knowledge of the basic choices that make or break lives. The word mystic is used broadly to encompass religion, New Age beliefs, the paranormal, the supernatural, , and so on. The word holistic, although older, is much less wieldy than words like complimentary, integrative, or even wholistic. * Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 3 The unfounded concerns of the mystic holistic crowd go on and on—chemicals, karma, vaccines, demons, pesticides, the inherent evils of the modern world, etc. They deliver their lines in rote fashion, as if reading from a script: "Chemical farming has made our food toxic." ‚The importance of faith is being ignored in our society.‛ "The sky is falling." Many sit at home worrying, "My chiropuncturist says I'm not getting the right _______.‛ ‚I don’t feel I’m praying hard enough." "Judgment Day is coming." "The environment is going to kill us." ‚Our standards of morality are going downhill.‛ "Our food is less nutritious." Is our food is really less nutritious? Prove it. Many studies show that our food is just as nutritious, and in many cases, more so. But all we can do is complain and buy into the same old myths. The mystic holistic visions of most people are inconsequential, affecting their personal lives only—that is, until they come together in great numbers to empower a persuasive abuser. They deal with unfounded concerns in confounded ways, turning to holistic authorities for help—to the fairy tale dealer for words of hope. Food supplement companies sell us on the idea that Nature is stupid, and it designed our bodies poorly. Therefore, we need their products to remain healthy. Equally, religion sells us on the idea that, because we somehow chose separation from God, our souls are now corrupted, and we need a particular brand of faith to find salvation. However, by this time next year, more people will be free from religious delusion, and live longer than any time in history, and with lower rates of heart disease. Could someone please address this? Just why we trust what religion and the supplement industries peddle to us is beyond reason. We are such wary consumers when purchasing expensive items, until it comes to our health—or the absurdities we wish to believe. In most cases, people charmed by mysticism have irrational notions about medicine and health: ‚By examining the faithful, a holistic health enthusiast will soon emerge!‛ And the reverse holds true—most holistic health enthusiasts are interested in some form of mysticism. This is because of a range of 4 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities related delusions, which makes both alternative medicine and alternative realities easier to accept. ‚When was the last time you wore alternative eyeglasses or took your car to an alternative repair shop?‛ Alternative realities either exist, or they do not. Likewise, a medicine either works or it does not—labels for different kinds of medical traditions such as, Traditional Chinese Medicine, integrative medicine, Tibetan Medicine, Western medicine, complementary medicine, Ayurvedic medicine*, natural medicine‛ mean little. The former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Marcia Angell, suggests that the time has come to disregard such labels, and stick with what science shows to work. By doing this, we avoid isolating ourselves into groups that simply hurl epithets at one another. "Either it is true that a medicine works or it isn't. It cannot be false in the ordinary sense but true in some 'alternative' sense. If a therapy or treatment is anything more than a placebo, properly conducted double-blind trials, statistically analyzed, will eventually bring it through with flying colours. Many for recognition as 'orthodox' medicines fail the test and are summarily dropped. The 'alternative' label should not (though, alas, it does) provide immunity from the same fate**." Ayurvedic Medicine is popularized outside of its native India by the likes of Deepak "Chopra on Oprah." These traditional medicines, manufactured in the US and India, and sold via the Internet, contain unacceptable levels of lead, mercury and arsenic. Eighty cases of lead poisoning have been reported. That prompted researchers to look closer at what is in Ayurvedic medicine (herbal only or Rasa Shastra. In Rasa Shastra, they deliberately add toxic metals--mercury, zinc, iron and ground up gems. Ayurvedic practitioner's claim this is therapeutic. Some American-made Ayurvedic medicines contain up to 20%, as can Rasa Shastra medicines. These are 100-10,000 times the acceptable limit of mercury and lead ingestion. ** A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love, Richard Dawkins, Mariner Books; Reprint edition (October 27, 2004) * Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 5 Professor Richard Dawkins Freedom from alternative absurdities require a willingness to revise set ways of thinking, as sound reasons compel us to do so. Sadly, few of us are up to this. Being more interested in something to believe in, we prefer to grab hold of an idea, and hang on for dear life. Delusion-free people have spoken out about all-natural* and supernatural proponents for years. These proponents were—and still are— determined to tell the world about their glories, while posing as if they are above reproach. Now, due to a growing mass of liberated minds speaking out in the Internet Age, that trend is changing. This work honors the courage of such minds. Mystic holistic proponents consider even the most tactful challenge to their claims as an affront to their faith. But as delusion-free voices grow more strident, mystic holistic objections do little to censor them. In addition, more and more people dismiss all-natural and supernatural statements: ‚It’s been around for thousands of years.‛ ‚Do not judge others.‛ ‚You can’t deny faith. Faith is what gives people hope.‛ ‚If it’s natural, it’s safe and effective.‛ ‚Don’t go to medical doctors. Modern medicine is completely misguided.‛ ‚Get out of your head, and get into your heart.‛ ‚By using this product, you’ll be changed in extraordinary ways—and by the way, all other brands are inferior.‛ * Something that is supposed to be100% natural 6 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities ‚By dedicating your life to this faith, you’ll be changed in miraculous ways—and by the way, all other religions are inferior.‛ We applaud citizens of a delusion-free society, ready to lift the narcoleptic veil of unreality, not driven by opinion or personal bent. They are primed to support their statements with evidence, when unmasking the mystic holistic mirage. An open mind is important to a degree, but we do not want our minds opened so wide that master manipulators can easily set up shop. However, the person of mystic holistic faith believes that, whoever uses a mental firewall to block their message must be biased, and incapable of changing their mind. Just the opposite is the case, though the philosophically sound mind forms its conclusions with care. The person of mystic holistic faith senses a great threat to their quest for easy, black and white answers, knowing that sound minds aim to drive a philosophical convoy through the gaping holes in their claims. Therefore, they indulge in the petty ‚skepticism is for narrow minds‛ myth, refusing to face facts. That is, they confuse skepticism with negative thought, pessimism, and close-mindedness. In reality, skepticism may now be one of the last great virtues that remain. This is why delusionfree people are skeptical, knowing that human beings earn trust, and uphold it with consistency and continuous reexamination*. Even when people claim to be skeptical, when examined closely, it often becomes clear they are not. The thinking skill of a clueless majority gradually evaporates, just as water stagnates in a dwindling stream—this makes understanding the complexities of the world more difficult than ever. And so we buy into the dream—a dream so preposterous, it is enough to make a truly skeptical person laugh until they cry, realizing that so many people believe it. Derived from the Greek ‚skeptesthai,‛ meaning, ‚to examine,‛ with objectivity, the skeptic examines claims. Used throughout this work, the phrase ‚delusion-free,‛ as in a delusion-free society, simply means skeptical and free from false beliefs. * Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 7 The delusion-free mind knows that, in explaining elementary delusion-free principles, such as those found in this work, what is elementary to them may be an advanced study for someone else. In any case, the goal remains—to protect people from the muscular grip of mystic holistic promotion, such as people whose livelihood is through aromatherapy*, divine parasitism (the clergy), devotion to a Great Plan (religion and other mass movements), and in dismal cases, crystal healing**. "Nothing matters as much as your relationship with God.‛ ‚Nothing matters as much as your health.‛ The words health and God have commanded more assets than any others in history. Nonetheless, people are free to buy in to whatever they will; this is the way of free societies. ‚You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom. You can only be free if I am free.‛ Clarence Darrow Just as new age healing poses danger to our bodies by deflecting real medical help, so mysticism poses to our minds. Sadly, many people capitulate, signing on to a course of stupid pill therapy, as the popularity of new age healing and mysticism continues to soar. And so they embrace a cluttered heap—a mixed bag of worthless beliefs. * Aromatherapy is the alleged remedial application of a plant’s essential oils. Pleasant scents, whether added to bathwater, sprayed on garments, or applied during massage, can be relaxing, like a walk in a flower garden, and not much else. But the claims made by many aromatherapists (that certain aromas can cure AIDS, boost the immune system, and so on) are fraudulent. Aromas are not medicines, nor can they restore a sick person to health. In addition, people who are allergic to essential oils are at risk when breathing them in. ** Many holistic healers believe that crystal healing works through ‚vibrational energy.‛ By using the ‚proper crystals,‛ the imagined energy system of the body is harmonized. 8 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities Only the brightest people are interested in facts. Often, when one thing or another is lacking intelligence, it attracts a large audience. A religious book may be a runaway bestseller, while a book written by a skeptic may reach only a few thousand. Conferences on building a delusion-free society may draw only a handful of people, but when a religious leader or a multilevel marketing mogul takes the stage, they may fill stadiums, as they captivate our imaginations in clever ways. The self-styled religious leader, who poses as master of all that ails us, takes advantage of our sense of existential angst. They tell us how sorry we will be unless we support the Great Plan. They lead us to believe that the Great Plan will forever change the course of history by bring peace on Earth. Likewise, the smooth spokesperson for the latest miracle formula tells us how sorry we will be unless we buy it. In singing the praises of the formula, they lead us to believe it could change the state of public health. But in buying it, we are stuck with a worthless product. Wondrous cures and mythic legends are popular, although created by the primitive mind. Backed by ancient tongues, tradition and testimonial, the mystic holistic mentality is not about making sense. Seen as a virtue, such a mentality comes to us courtesy of our failure to discern the real from the fictitious—and so the fall of critical judgment begins, spreading to all cognitive faculties. We give in even when there is nothing to go on except our primitive urges or someone’s word. Enough of us are sold on the incredible to ensure that the people behind the incredible do well. So we join mystical groups, and buy holistic products. Because the people behind the incredible succeed so brilliantly in pitching us, they expand, provided they stay within the confines of our feeble laws. Religious minions and purveyors of health products are out to recruit us. They tie everything together into a slick package, aided by mass mailings, junk faxes, telemarketing and even knocks on our doors. The Judgment Day preacher speaks about the evils of science one minute, and then uses email to confirm our visit to their church. A talk show dictator speaks authoritatively on an issue one minute, and then pushes a trashy weight loss product the next. Their pitch is brazen enough to pierce the consciousness of the gullible, and deceptive enough to revolt the intelligent. Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 9 The ‚give ‘em enough rope‛ principle comes into play for people who insist on mindless faith. Unfortunately, they impose their rituals and tinctures on helpless children, and the rope encircles their necks too. Children show signs of magical thinking by creating imaginary characters at play, at around 18 months of age. Most children can tell the difference between reality and imagination by 3 years of age, but will still believe in cultural myths, like the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus or various religious figures, especially with encouragement from adults. Children simply filter a slice of reality through the mythology they are taught. Children filter even larger slices of reality when they live in cultures heavy in mythology. Children embrace such mythology because their indoctrination starts early, which serves to keep them from critical judgment. Children can understand the idea of wishing to make things come true (prayer) by around 7 years of age and, without being programmed by mystic-minded adults, lose confidence in its value. Children may grow up to leave the old myths behind, as the advantages of science, technology and rational thinking become clear. But the evolutionary process has left vestiges of magical thinking in our brains, and even if we manage to shed our early indoctrination, it may persist despite our insistence on rational thinking. ‚I wish that idiot would get cancer or something!‛ Magical thinking is rooted in the little superstitions that most of us have. The belief that we have special powers can soothe our fears in threatening situations and make us feel better. But magical thinking can cripple us, especially when called on by force of habit. Religion is only one aspect of magical thinking, which involves a series of complex matters, including ethnicity, morality, social interactions, or cultural and historical feelings. ‚The day after I began praying for my father’s quick recovery after surgery, he began to feel better.‛ Magical thinking robs us of self-determination, and it is most evi- 10 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities dent when we feel powerless. We believe that our beliefs will somehow take the work out of things. Many studies show that, if we believe in things like Tarot cards, it is because we feel inadequate—uncertain of our abilities, and so we assume that handing it over to the supernatural makes life easier. ‚In order to be successful at work, I step out of the house with my right foot first.‛ This means we disregard the many days when we were successful at work, but stepped out of the house with left foot first. Similarly, faith in astrology means that we disregard (or are ignorant of) research into astrology—how scientists have examined the astrological sun signs of thousands of people—their career choices, their likelihood of going through a divorce, etc. Calling astrology a form of superstition would be kind, and it brings into question the character of people who live by it. The theory of astrology, for instance, is full of gaping holes. For instance, when is the precise moment of birth or death? Most people have no idea how or when these times are recorded. ‚What time was that baby born?‛ When the head came out? When the baby opened their eyes? When the baby started breathing? When the doctor slapped it on the buttocks and got it to breath? Astrologers must explain to us how identical twins, born at the same time by Cesarean section, at same latitude and longitude, etc., are different. According to astrologers, their personalities should be similar—and yet parents of these twins know that they each have unique qualities. This goes on and on. So, it is obvious; astrology is nonsense. People of conscience, in order to avoid emotional encounters, can address mystic holistic beliefs only in oblique ways at best. People of conscience may also choose to cut off contact with the ‚incredibly advanced‛ holistic mystic at last, especially when in prolonged, personal contact. Up till then, people of conscience must be discreet. If they take the slightest stand, they may experience the rants and raves of the thin- Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 11 skinned. All the peace, love and harmony fades. This happens even when handling the typically touchy, magical thinker with every measure of people-skill possible. The holistic mystic will not read delusion-free literature, view delusion-free video, or listen to delusion-free audio in any way. And even if they did, such material will not retain its original meaning, as their mind wanders to other dimensions. They resist most attempts to reveal their personal shroud of dogma. More likely, holistic mystics will consider such material unworthy, and avoid it altogether. The clairvoyant inversion therapist will snap out of their supernormal slumber, and come up smiling, only on rare occasions, unless brought to the upright position. Until then, the world of reason seems upside down. Evidence Inverted ‚My manicurist told me about an all-natural, anti-wrinkle cream that she wants to sell me. She says it’s a big breakthrough.‛ ‚Our friends are raving about this new herbal product that is supposed to miraculously ream the colon, and clear it of toxins.‛ ‚Doctors don’t want us to know about the amazing benefits of allnatural Rump Plumber. They would be out of business if word was to leak out.‛ ‚I got a tape in the mail last week that talked about a product that sounds fantastic. Listen to it, and tell me what you think.‛ ‚These Androwood Lozenges contain secret, herbal ingredients, but they’re guaranteed to work. It seems like doctors are ignorant of it. Androwood brought massive timber to my mine shaft in less than a week.‛ Our badminton coach swears that Psiology helped her play better, but before signing up for a course, we might reconsider that which sounds implausible. Likewise, testimonials that say eating too much avocado can lead to schizophrenia, or that many pounds of parasites infest the intestines of the average Westerner are far-fetched. 12 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities A television show claims to present reenactments of real life Ghostbusters in action; it depicts the art and mystery of the paranormal, full of strange accounts and scientific-looking equipment, but nothing else to confirm it, except reenactments, and someone’s paid claim of extraordinary events. The rational person writes off such television shows. Mystic and holistic advocates lack supporting evidence for their claims, and so are forced to use testimonials to generate publicity. Unlike a scientist who writes abstracts for a peer-reviewed journal, people who reinforce claims with anecdotes declare miraculous effects. Whether by a paid spokesperson or a deflated celebrity, the use of testimonials to hawk something predicts the advent of grand manure. Many years ago, scientists learned of the misleading nature of testimonials. However, they continue to be a favorite technique of manure peddlers everywhere. When several well-designed studies find something to be worthless, reason demands that we not waste our time and money. ‚Just as an alternative fire department would be an absurd and dangerous waste of city revenue, so are the claims of a Drug Location Machine, with no record of ever performing effectively in the field." We identify dung in a grand manure state of affairs, where testimonials are the rule, by using a principle fundamental to delusion-free thought—a concept that many rational people know well, although the public is not familiar with it: ‚Normal credit cannot be extended to abnormal claims.‛ The Principle of Laplace, in honor of the famous astronomer and mathematician, Pierre-Simon, Marquis de Laplace (1749-1827), affirms, "The weight of evidence for an extraordinary claim must be proportioned to its strangeness." We must be ready to offer some heavy evidence, something greater than testimonials, if we claim that aliens kidnapped our family, and whisked them off to Planet X-22, before rational people will accept it. Likewise, the great holistic hero must offer heavy evidence to bolster their claim of using hydrogen peroxide to cure cancer. Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 13 Investigators rarely have the benefit of knowing whether the claims of the great holistic idol are real. Far from cooperating with investigators, the idol does not have, or will not surrender, any records, publish any results, or allow anyone to examine their methods. Absent in their appeal is the high-quality data needed to overturn everything known about hydrogen peroxide and the treatment of cancer. Then again, if we were to make an ordinary claim like, ‚I feel great,‛ it would be no big deal for other people to take us on our word: ‚Without further ado, ordinary claims can be accepted.‛ The money back guarantee, like the testimonial, is among the most common sales gimmicks in modern marketing. Advertisers learned that most people are too lazy, embarrassed, or consider the amount of money too small to ask for their money back, although such a guarantee is used by honest and sleazy companies alike. Even the wary consumer can yield under such an assurance—in all likelihood, it is because they have weak powers of critical thinking to begin with. A sleazy company, on learning of the popularity of a legitimate drug, creates a cheap knock-off usually of inexpensive vitamins and a sprinkle of herbs. Such a company makes their cheap knock-off seem more safe and effective than the original; and its name plays off the original in order to confuse us. Viagra becomes Vigara, in anticipation of a wrong spelling when someone searches for it online. Among the most popular products are those that claim to make amazing things happen: we will lose fat, sprout hair, get thinner thighs, or enlarge a part of our anatomy, and people will be attracted to us. A spokesperson, paid to deliver clever warnings for the stuff, tells us: ‛Be careful not to use too much of our powerful product.‛ ‚Vigara is not for every man—only those who need serious help should use it.‛ What a stroke of marketing genius, which surely pulls the gullible consumer in. __________________________________________________________ 14 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities Doctors, biologists and scientists are just people trying to provide for themselves and their families. They can do little to ensure that an endless stream of bogus ads does not bombard us. These ads are hugely profitable to marketers, to radio, television or whoever conveys them. And, the credit card companies that process the orders show a huge profit. So we ask ourselves, ‚Do we want to take on the marketers, the media and the credit card companies?‛ These are the forces we are up against. This is why people get ripped-off day in and day out in this world of ours—where people seem to think the best thing they can do is rip-off other people. Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities 15 The Unteachables ‚, Mr. Myers is again taking on a new class this year. He assumes that all the students are there to learn, but it soon becomes clear that a few rebellious students refuse to get with the program. They disrupt the class, and hold up the progress of the other students. Their constant mischief, both on and off campus, and refusal to learn, gets them expelled, and sent to a remedial school prepared to deal with them.‛ The arrival of a delusion-free world, at least in the near future, is possible only with a substantial shift in the mentality of human beings. Until then, the believer will not easily wither away, and will continue to find beauty in immovable faith. ‚You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe.‛ Carl Sagan The blight of the determined believer is latching on to a particular worldview, however absurd, and refusing to let it go. Such a believer wears their convictions like a badge, which gives them a false sense of security. And so it is unthinkable for them to abandon their god. They gladly trade passage into the world of reason for castles in the sky, which seem to offer them so much safety and warmth. They are seldom intelligent enough to break out of their dogma, and make the leap into objectivity, preferring instead to walk in supernatural and all-natural paths. The simple act of warning people against mystic holistic traps, like a sign that says, ‚Caution: hole in road,‛ perturbs the believer to no end; it may even drive them to emotionalism, insults, and craziness. We can only implore them to calm down before things turn ugly, or we must depart from them altogether. If we stay and try to reason with them, we waste our time, determined, as they are, to give us their sermon. 16 Alternative Medicine, Alternative Realities A Call to Mental Arms The dawn breaks, after floundering all through the long, dark night, in a vessel with a broken compass. The time has come to cease floating down wishful channels, and change course. Looking around, we see that the surest route is a demanding course upstream toward the source. Navigating the New Millennium River, we propel our craft to true horizons. We use charts laid out by the greatest navigators, which plot the best routes possible, and so we insure our safe passage. We discover the best routes to ply, and where it is best to hug the shore, while steering clear of those who would keelhaul us through rough waters. Navigators prone to being off-course must take a transport ship instead. Undercurrents catch passengers who, along for the ride only, ignore safety bulletins, which warn them against diving into dangerous waters. Our lookouts search for any serious challenge to our voyage with great vigilance—for the many mystic holistic marauders who aim to plunder us. Telepathic pirates have set mines meant to submerge us in deep misinformation, and bar us from life giving waters. In addition, all passengers must be alert to vindictive stewards, who aim to take them below deck, and make them theirs. Such stewards aim to bend them over to suit their fancy, and proceed to have their way with them. A call to mental arms thunders out: our point of power is at hand. No longer will the best and brightest sit by quietly. More and more of us are willing to speak out against those who would sell us out, in a world infested with liars, who have sullied so many lives. 2 Health Swingers International Health Swingers International is a movement devoted to the AllNatural Way, out to bare the gruesome mainstream. ‚Natural is good—man-made is bad. It’s just that simple.‛ The aim of HSI is to find the treatment or supplement that holds the key to natural health. We appeal to the Vitamin Gods to help us in our quest in tracking the fads that come and go. We encourage our members to embrace testimonials, folklore, the knowledge of early 20th century doctors, and anything considered ‚alternative,‛ even if it is questionable. We do our best to follow the suggestions of anyone who writes a book on holistic health. We are indebted to the tabloids, the chiropractors, and the 18 Health Swingers International talk shows, for keeping us abreast of the many amazing breakthroughs. We are proud to announce the Grand Opening of our Discount Buyer’s Club, which everyone is encouraged to visit. Each week, we feature products usually obtainable only from the clinics of holistic health practitioners. We aim to topple the medical establishment like guerrillas in a righteous war. We see doctors as hellhounds, who feel pleasure by seeing us half-dead. These hellhounds conspire with the drug companies to block natural cures, and poison everyone in order to make money and prevail, so threatened are they by alternative medicine. By challenging this unholy alliance of doctors and drug companies, we satisfy the psychological need to condemn those with power. We believe that supplement manufacturers and practitioners of holistic health are beyond reproach, although we demand that doctors take full responsibility for what they do. We at HSI join with health freedom fighters everywhere, and assist in ushering in a visionary, new age. The fads come and go in the world of health swinging. The amazing cures of holistic health set rise and fall like a barometer —only to repeat. We can list the current health fads, and know that, before long, they too will vanish, just as in the past. They pass time and again until they are revived—yet little has changed. We are no better off even with each and every supplement and holistic treatment. The health swinger soars high on the great organic uprising, like majestic eagles, devoted to placebos*, each one adorned with stirring Many of us are familiar the placebo—from the Latin ‚I shall please/.‛ The placebo is an inert therapy that works because we believe. Like a capsule full of sawdust, the placebo eases our symptoms only because we expect it to (‚You came looking for help, and I shall please. Take this‛). * Health Swingers International 19 tales. Usually a likable person when unchallenged, they are looking for the latest thing in new age medicine, particularly when alleged to help all that doctors do poorly with**. Even when they seem rational at first, and not fooled by Big Religion, they are fully caved. "Doctors and drug companies are suppressing natural cures!" Health swingers endorse the common ‚they’re suppressing natural cures!" theory, although the flaw in such thinking is clear: doctors and drug companies will jump on anything shown to be safe and effective. Helping sick people is good for business, and they go to great lengths in making valuable medicines and treatments available. ‚How is it that doctors offer drugs that only give temporary relief? Surely, they could give permanent relief if they wanted to. As usual, they offer only temporary relief because they are out to make money.‛ The widespread belief, that there exists a product so effective as to give permanent relief, drives food supplement companies to create more ‚amazing‛ products: It’s pricey, but just one course of Cannabuproxib, the amazing, allnatural, herbal breakthrough, brings relief that lasts and lasts. Pharmaceutical companies have searched far and wide for this holy grail of pain relief, fully aware of the potential reward. Now, Cannabuproxib has arrived, and has proved itself to be a treasure trove for Stoner Labs Inc. of Wassenaar, Netherlands.‛ ‚Finally, my answer is here! Cannabuproxib stopped my pain for good!‛ Senator Olin Hatcher ** Despite the fact that many diseases have, as of yet, no effective treatment. 20 Health Swingers International Consumers readily buy the products of a voracious industry, driven by the ‚shotgun‛ mentality (‚if a little is good, more is better‛), —an industry that lies about the safety, efficacy, and even the ingredients of its products. With zero evidence to support them, they relentlessly pitch their products to an unwary public. The health swinger believes that supplement shotgunning is a good thing, even though they are unwarranted—that is, shotgunning leads to costly urine and biologic chaos. The novice health swinger will rationalize their behavior, thinking that a bit of Therapeutic Touch* cannot hurt them. Before long, Therapeutic Touch no longer provides the buzz that it once did, even with repeated sessions. In need of a bigger kick, they seek out the more virulent forms of health swinging, such as chiropractic neck twists, ginkgo biloba**, dental amalgam removal, or natural foods store hormones. Ironically, they see their health in a more negative light because they obsess about it. The dietary supplement sections of natural foods stores offer a smattering of conditionally acceptable products alongside harmful ones. This adds to the confusion, as most people cannot tell the difference. When someone goes on about the glories of a dietary supplement or health fad, it is, as a rule, a lost cause for us to jump in with a rational perspective. If we were to interject at the outset, they might realize that they are in beyond their depth. In that case, a debate is incumbent on them. A person of integrity, who offers objective products or services, may want to hold on to a mystic holistic client, and not insist on rational views. Staying away from useless debates, such a businessperson may elect to remain tight-lipped around holistic mystics. The practitioner of Therapeutic Touch believes that, by waving their hands over the body of a recipient, they harmonize ‚life force‛ and induce health. A prime example of the placebo effect, the practitioner maintains that we have an aura, or energy sphere, which surrounds our bodies, which Therapeutic Touch influences. * ** Ginkgo biloba supplements raise the risk of stroke. Neurology. 2008 Feb 27 Health Swingers International 21 The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it. Voltaire Deceptive Medicine ‚The Commission on Judicial Performance formally disbarred Judge Frederick Allen, due to the bizarre events that followed his angry outburst. Judge Allen was in the middle of a fuming tirade, when he violently slammed down his gavel, according to courtroom observers. A huge bolt of lightning struck outside, just 100 feet away from the courtroom at the exact moment that his gavel hit, to the astonishment of everyone. Instantly, that bolt killed a 25 year-old man, on trial for carrying a concealed weapon. David Klahr was on his way to court when he was cut down. News of the event spread, and people believed that the anger of Judge Allen had caused the bolt that killed Mr. Klahr. The ensuing public outrage sealed the fate of Judge Allen.‛ We bridge the gap whenever we wrongly link two or more events. We believe that everything has now come together to solve a puzzle, and, as a result, are unyielding. The false connections solidify, and become our experience. As official owners of the events, we brush aside all contrary evidence. In fact, this is reminiscent of the sweeping statements of made-to-order psychic readings. The belief that alliance implies cause adds fuel to massive amounts of holistic garbage and superstitious airs. ‚When I took that supplement, I got better!‛ ‚I think that spirit-writer was really on to something.‛ Our brains evolved to make spontaneous judgments about cause and effect as a means of survival—instantly linking two events before reason can be applied. But the world grew increasingly complex, and 22 Health Swingers International our brains were bogged down by the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy (from the Latin, ‚after this therefore because of this‛). This is like saying "my mother called just as I was thinking of her, so I must have made her call." Countless superstitions arise from such thinking. We believe that, "B happened after A, so A must be linked B," and our minds look for connections, even if it means accepting ones that are not there. ‚We have been using more and more antiperspirant over the past 50 years, and breast cancer has gone up in that time. Therefore, they’re related.‛ ‛I noticed a sore throat coming on. I bought some Vitamin C and took it. Instantly, I felt the soreness vanish! From now on, I’ll be sure to take Vitamin C at the first sign of a cold.‛ ‛No wonder my breasts feel bigger; last week, my chiropractor sold me some homeopathic Nipaloon capsules, and I’ve been taking them for a week now.‛ The simple placebo effect is one of our most powerful healers, and has been so since the beginning of human history. Researchers continue to study its physiological effects, in the knowledge that the mind can affect the body to a degree. If we understand and respect the placebo effect alone, it can guide us through a range of delusion. Under what circumstances and to whom the placebo acts is still a matter of investigation, but if we have enough faith that a placebo will heal us, it might—or at least we may believe so—even though it has no active ingredients. In addition, a significant proportion of us feel better just because someone is treating us, even if the treatment itself is inert. Many studies illustrate this, from depression to prostate medication. When subjects are told they were in the group that received placebo pills at the end of a study, many insist that, because of taking them, they are noticeably improved. Subjects may insist on a supply of the pills even in cases where tests showed that their conditions were worse. Health Swingers International 23 Many doctors say they are now willing to prescribe placebos because of instances like this. In fact, a large percentage of doctors already do, whether in the form of dummy pills, homeopathic medicines, saline infusions, B-12 injections, weak herbal extracts, and low, ineffective doses of medicine. Nonetheless, these inert preparations still prove useful for a wide variety of patients, even when doctors know they are prescribing them. That is, they work, even though they do not work— remarkable. In most cases, doctors who use placebo prescriptions do so to keep irritable patients quiet, or appease their demands for medication, but whose symptoms are not serious enough to warrant its use. For these reasons, some medical ethicists oppose the practice, especially when the patient is not informed, and does not give their consent*. In contrast, researchers put pharmaceutical drugs through exhaustive testing to prove they are better than placebos. What is wrong with placebos if they make people feel and believe they are better? Shouldn’t we allow manufacturers to sell us products that only work by means of our expectations? Should we drop all the rules that require drug manufacturers to sell us products proven to work better than placebo (even though it is, in large part, what modern medicine is about)? We do allow placebos on the market in cases when (1) we are not treating something life threatening, (2) we are not putting off rational treatment, (3) the product is harmless, and (4) it does not cost a lot of money. Unfortunately, we overlook these criteria too many times. When we turn to placebos, we often do put off rational treatment, and by the time we figure out that we have been taking placebos, our disease may have progressed to a point where our problems are now untreatable. In other words, we were ripped off all because we felt it was all right for companies to sell us placebos. * Journal of General Internal Medicine, January 2008 24 Health Swingers International Once we believe something will help, facts will not deter us—this is how scores of phony treatments and mystical practices perpetuate themselves. People think they are really doing something beneficial, and no amount of objective logic is going to convince them otherwise. Seeing people waste their time and money this way is sad, especially when it could be put to so much better use. Researchers find that the less effective a beauty treatment, spa treatment, wrinkle cream, etc., the more women will keep using them*. Women devote themselves to the products and treatments when they do not work more than when they do. Fear of looking old is a strong motivator for women to keep trying ineffective products or treatments, but they stop worrying once they achieve results. So if we want our company to do well in business, we must come up with a health or beauty product that acts as a placebo. We should be careful if our company has an effective health or beauty product, as people may stop using it—this applies to the diet industry too. Mending a broken leg overnight is beyond what a placebo can do, but if we tell a patient they are being given a powerful painkiller, the placebo effect has been known to temporarily stabilize them**. If told that a machine is reporting high blood flow to the pelvic area, women who lack orgasmic ability may respond. If a friend raves about a new fat loss supplement being hyped on the radio, claiming that ‚It works!‛ the real meaning of ‚It works!‛ may be revealed on further probing—a limited response from an inert product caused by intense belief. Placebos will not do for the rational person—only that which has been tested and proved effective will do—not beliefs. The placebo effect is the basis of religious faith and prayer, which is why trying to reconcile science and faith is fruitless. Faith is one thing— but it is quite another to expect rational people to accept religious childishness. We have the right to believe that the age of the earth is only * University of Bath, December 2007 ** Neuropharmacological Dissection of Placebo Analgesia: Expectation-Activated Opioid Systems versus Conditioning-Activated Specific Subsystems. Journal of Neuroscience, January 1, 1999, 19(1):484-494 Health Swingers International 25 6,000 years if we want to, but science tells us it is far older. Having childish beliefs will limit us to a certain subset of society, and ostracize us from rational people, but it is our privilege. Many studies already lend support to the power of certain belief systems. However, proving the efficacy of the most common placebo, intercessory prayer, and its ability to heal—or replace a lost eye—would be the greatest discovery in the history of science, and nothing less. If we had major evidence that long-distance prayer could bring about world peace, people throughout the globe would celebrate. However, such evidence must be good enough to pass the standards of heavyweight, peer-reviewed journals. Spiritual groups throughout the world promise that they can turn the tide, just as peace on Earth is beginning to look hopeless. What a relief! They say that, by following their plan, a vision of world peace that will dawn in the heart of all human beings. In ceremony God brings various spiritual groups, from many different parts of the world to Sacred Places of Ascension. By bonding together with other Core groups around the world, they add to the Universal Network of Radiance. As Pilgrims of the Core link together in transcendental union, they add to the luminescence needed for world peace. In the meantime, warring factions continue to slaughter one another in the true spirit of vengeance and racial purity. ‚I was overcome when my father died young at age 58. Now that I too am turning 58, I am paralyzed with fear. I know that by linking my father’s death to my own fate, I am only torturing myself, but I can’t seem to shake it, even with medication.‛ A newer word, nocebo, from the Latin, ‚I shall harm,‛ implies that we are affected adversely only through belief. The perceived harm may be clear or subtle—chronic or brief. ‚People are in poor health because of X. But Y can help.‛ 26 Health Swingers International The effects of the nocebo may linger, even though negative reports seem to be out of mind. If we listen to an astrologer, who declares that the alignment of planets in our chart bodes ill, it may unconsciously influence our impression of future events. Our beliefs are powerful enough to briefly hold off death or hasten it, and they may be at least as strong as any potion, time on the treadmill, or special diet. The placebo and nocebo are at work like phantoms, in the thousand things happening all around us. They affect things like the stock exchange, and the quality of our lives. The mystic holistic believer focuses on hope, faith, positive thought (all placebos) and false fear (the nocebo), rather than focusing on reality. Nonetheless, they tell us ‚Believe what I say,‛ without a shred of real evidence. If a mystic holistic parent believes that their diabetic child must not take insulin because it is toxic (nocebo), and the child simply needs homeopathy and prayer to get better (placebos), they have crossed the line. Now, that parent has bought a ticket to prison. Few people have single bullet solutions to complex problems—least of all the mystic holistic devotee. And so the Hyperorganic Tabernacle offers only placebos and nocebos. Before committing to a supplement, a drug, a practice, or a treatment, the rational person investigates: ‚First, I want to exhaust the things that offer statistical outcomes, trying only the things most likely to help me. If something does not work, I can move on to something else, with knowledge of what is real, and what is placebo.‛ Health Swingers International 27 Hyphulduras In 1981, craniosacral therapist Arnold Gregory created a new tincture he called ‚hyphulduras,‛ after years of testing. In time, thousands in the health freedom movement used it, and were sure he had at last found the cure for all diseases. Today, millions know the magnitude of his creation, and its role in boosting the immune system. Arnold Gregory had no idea of the hornet's nest he was about to stir. Hyphulduras was a significant threat to the medical establishment. The multinational pharmaceutical companies were not able to patent it, so they fiercely attacked the claim that it was a cure-all. But it took billions of dollars to bury the legend of hyphulduras, and slow the cause of health freedom. This story is one of many that show how a criminal money machine, willing to conceal the truth, runs modern medicine. 28 Health Swingers International Ear Candles We must be used to learning about bizarre health fads by now, and ear candling is among them. This is the practice of inserting the tip of a foot-long hollow fabric cone impregnated with bee's wax, and lighting the distal end, which is alleged to draw out toxic earwax, purify the soul, eliminate negative energy, clear the mind, etc. This cone is supposed to create a vacuum or chimney effect. After it has burnt down close to the ear, it is withdrawn. When the cone is sliced open, "toxic earwax " is seen. But when an ear candle is burned inside of a simple glass jar, and sliced open afterwards, the same amount of "toxic earwax" is inside—as much as one burned near the ear. Clearly, this is melted wax from the candle itself*. * Ear candles: a triumph of ignorance over science. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 2004 Health Swingers International 29 If we follow the plan of a health guru, and consume their enchanted tinctures, or take their bizarre treatments, can we really fine-tune our health and make it last? Many marketers of placebos claim that their product boosts the immune system. They get away with this because most of us have a naive view of the immune system, which has several functions, only one of which is to attack germs. If we could truly ‚boost‛ our immune systems, we would wind up with arthritis, allergies, lupus, colitis, scleroderma, and so on—all the diseases caused by a ‚boosted‛ immune system. And let’s be clear: people with normal immune systems get sick, probably because having something for our immune systems to do on occasion may be important. We turn to vaccines if we want to build up our immunity, which work by building up antibodies to fight germs. However, there is no way to build up our immune systems to fight every germ in the world. If we walk into a health food store, we see offers of all kinds of garbage claiming to boost our immune systems—they are simply preying upon our uninformed view of what the immune system is. We seldom hear a health guru say much about our distinctive physical makeup, capacity for fitness, and how they congeal the day we were conceived. Maybe we can add a few months to our allotted time, but the design has already been set when the sperm and egg of our parents met. They rolled the genetic dice, and everything was set into motion—we became the people we are. After this, we can try to enhance the quality of our health only within certain inherited limits—our upbringing, our contact with noxious agents, our past and present illnesses, and anything else that might have harmful effects on our health and prolonged existence. Certainly, a few health gurus will pass away prematurely from morbid disease, while well-known entertainers, notorious for their health habits, survive to see their centennial—and sometimes, this is the other way around. Then, there are other health gurus who look unwholesome and overweight, even though they lecture us on proper eating habits. They brag about the ultimate pathways to glowing fitness, while they themselves look unfit. Many health gurus claim to know the 30 Health Swingers International secret of Super Health, yet they die prematurely, leaving behind volumes of their work, and a contingency of devotees still under the spell of their great-sounding rhetoric. Appealing to Galileo Countless claims exist, and the wise use of limited research money demands that we investigate only the most promising first. However, the mystic holistic believer insists that even the most unlikely claims merit thorough scrutiny. Many leap to the example of Galileo, concluding that every new idea is a worthy one, though seldom submitting anything worthwhile. Countless theories have come and gone since the time of Galileo. Most proved erroneous, and never saw the light of day. ‚But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright Brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.‛ Carl Sagan Many of the countless holistic theories coming down the pike are laughable, and doctors too find them funny. But doctors laugh at stand up comedians as well. In fact, the theories put forward by practitioners of alternative medicine rank among the silliest in the world. Health Swingers International 31 “It’s been Around Thousands of Years” One reason why so many people value old mystical practices, like those of Asian medicine, and mistake them as superior, is that they have survived the centuries. ‚According to the ancient masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kidney Essence nourishes the Brain (the Sea of Marrow), which in turn gives rise to the ears.‛ A key concept in holistic romance is that the ancients knew things that scientists cannot grasp. Bronze Age folk healers held the key to living a long life in harmony with nature, so they say, long before modern physiology and microbiology. The evidence-based person will reject anything if its only support is its age. The same goes for other ancient practices, like divination by reading animal entrails, or human sacrifice to please the gods. The Great Supplement Wars Ominously, the clouds of dust particles clear—we scan the quadrant, and to our surprise, we find little to fear from the Federation. Ahead, legions of health commanders fight each other for the chance to prey on naive denizens, locked in a colossal battle. Now is our chance. We must act decisively in order to cash in on the status of alternative medicine. Otherwise, we will lose the time to strike, be forced to abandon ship and just sit by and watch the melee. Therefore, we will toss the Code of Honor overboard in order to avoid such a fate. Veterans of the NPT wars launch the first assault against the mainstream medicine infidels. The Veterans minister to the fallen, though they are unqualified to treat them. We take our positions upon sounding the alarm, and distribute nostrums at warp rate—it looks like we may have a slaughter on our hands as the denizens rush to acquire the latest ones. Ethical people have no desire to peddle holistic health products. 32 Health Swingers International However, they could further the cause of health freedom if they would only lower their principles. The health freedom movement (the freedom to waste money on worthless or harmful holistic rot) seeks to punish anyone who interferes with the business of Non-Proven Therapy (NPT). But the health freedom movement has little regard for evidence, unlike scientists who look for evidence of safety and efficacy. But the public has at no time been accountable to health freedom. When adverse outcomes occur, they demand justice. The Godfather of Flakes ‚