Tagged Questions

2
votes
0answers
61 views

Is “Oil Pulling” an effective treatment for arthritis or other chronic diseases?

Oil Pulling is apparently an ancient practice, but is seeing a recent surge in popularity. It is claimed it can cure almost anything, from bad breath to AIDS. The process apparently involves ...
4
votes
0answers
119 views

NAET - is it a hoax or does it have any merit?

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Techniques seems to claim to be able to heal almost anything. It primarily focuses on allergies as the core of all issues. It seems to talk of meridians in human ...
13
votes
2answers
184 views

Does water therapy provide measurable benefits to childbirth?

I recently watched the trailer for The Business of Being Born, which included the following quote: "The presence of Doulas; using water during labor; these things have been scientifically shown to ...
1
vote
0answers
109 views

How can I make sure my medical workers are using evidence based medicine (EBM)? [closed]

My wife and I recently found out we're expecting. While looking into a hospital for the delivery, I found that all the hospitals in my area use midwives for the births that are likely to be ...
5
votes
0answers
278 views

Does coconut oil work as an antibiotic and as a treatment for AIDS?

I've heard lots of extraordinary claims about coconut oil, but I've seen very littleresearch to back it up. Most of what I've heard is based on anecdotal evidence, so that's not really convincing. ...
4
votes
1answer
196 views

Does chelation therapy for artherosclerosis, clogging of our arteries, work?

I have seen (not read) the book Bypassing Bypass Surgery by Elmer Cranton, which claims that infusions of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) can apparently clean out the arteries for cholesterol ...
13
votes
1answer
3k views

Do copper bracelets help arthritis?

Many people tell me to wear a magnetic or copper bracelet to improve my arthritis is there any science behind this? Many online shops sell copper bracelets containing magnets for their health effects. ...
5
votes
0answers
169 views

Can boneset cure dengue fever?

From livestrong: Homeopathic Remedy Boneset is also available as a homeopathic remedy under its Latin name, Eupatorium perfoliatum. In his book "Materia Medica and Repertory," homeopath, Dr. ...
5
votes
1answer
615 views

Does the QNET Amezcua Bio Disc work?

Is the Bio Disc medically effective? The product description says Bio Disc is able to redefine and harmonise the energy of water, greatly maximising its positive affect on the human body ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views

Does drinking the urine of camels have medical benefits?

According to an Islam Q&A site, the prophet Mohammad prescribed camel's milk and urine to cure illness. It goes on to claim there are benefits from drinking camel's urine including: Camel’s ...
5
votes
1answer
625 views

Does eating clay have any beneficial effect?

I was presented with an "interesting" alternative form of medicine today: clay. As in, the consumption of it. 10 Good Reasons To Eat Clay! To assist your body in the removal of toxic ...
2
votes
1answer
257 views

Does Protandim “reduce age-related symptoms”?

I have a friend who sells some sort of supplement called "Protandim", and I'm wondering if it actually works or is any good. I'm skeptical of it, but I'm not aware of any evidence either way. The ...
3
votes
1answer
317 views

Do cryotherapy chambers reduce healing time and relieve pain and fatigue?

There's a fad going around, especially in the NBA to use "Cryotherapy" to reduce healing time and relieve pain and fatigue. The patient is placed in a chamber, which is lowered to -166 degrees ...
3
votes
1answer
413 views

Does orthotics work?

My father has problems with his knees. His doctor said that he should get an operation. However, the operation does not usually work, is very expensive, and can make things worse. A multi-level ...
5
votes
1answer
4k views

Can GAPS diet cure autism, schizophrenia and dyslexia?

I have read a lot of claims regarding GAP syndrome and GAPS diet with the most surprising of them being that the proposed diet can even cure disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. For example in ...
5
votes
3answers
899 views

Do essential oils safely and effectively treat constipation, stomach aches and fevers?

My wife was encouraged to try several doTERRA "essential oils". She's convinced (through anecdotal evidence and perhaps the placebo effect) that different oils have been effective in treating ...
20
votes
3answers
1k views

Are “pox parties” safer than vaccines for children?

So-called pox parties have been around in various forms in varying degrees of popularity since the 1980's, and are described on Wikipedia as: A pox party, or flu party or flu fling, is a social ...
7
votes
1answer
404 views

If I stand on my head for a while will I get healthier?

I've read that standing on your head (called sirsasana by hatha yoga practicioners) does something to the blood flow to the brain and hence increase your health or something. Partial claims were made ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views

Can a Himalayan crystal salt cave reduce stress?

Can "Himalayan crystal salt" (a.k.a. rock salt from Pakistan) reduce stress? "[Himalayan crystal salt] has a beneficial effect on the body of healthy people - significantly reduces stress, ...
5
votes
1answer
190 views

Does catnip treat headache and coughs and insomnia?

In this article - http://www.cat-world.com.au/all-about-catnip, it was mentioned that catnip can be used to treat headache, cough and insomnia. It is also useful for settling an upset stomach. It ...
14
votes
2answers
795 views

Does German New Medicine work?

German New Medicine is a medical treatment developed by Ryke Geerd Hamer. Hamer claims that the cause for every cancer is a "biological-conflict shock". The German New Medicine is a set of ...
0
votes
0answers
207 views

Does bloodletting assist in reducing viral loads? [closed]

It seems obvious to me that reducing the amount of reproducing bloodborne pathogens in the bloodstream will have a significant effect on the future population in a human being. However, I'm not a ...
2
votes
1answer
325 views

Is there any substance that is shown to kill germs in vitro and shown not to cure illness?

Dr. Stephen Barrett writes that colloidal silver should not be taken to treat any illness. He says that there have not been any studies done that show that colloidal silver treats illness in vivo. ...
1
vote
0answers
714 views

What's wrong with this paper about “Applied Kinesthesiology”? [closed]

I've been doing some reading about "Applied Kinesthesiology" (AT), also known as "manual muscle testing", or simply "muscle testing". Those of you familiar with this process likely see it as an ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views

Does milk thistle prevent liver damage in alcoholics?

There are some people who take milk thistle to offset or repair the liver damage caused by chronic alcoholism. Example here Milk thistle and silymarin are commonly used in the United States and ...
1
vote
0answers
318 views

Have there ever been studies of cancer that has been left untreated? [closed]

I'm just wondering what work has been done to look at cancers left untreated and what the survival rates and prolonging time periods are like. The reason I ask is that I see claims of cancer ...
11
votes
2answers
809 views

Did Steve Jobs fall prey to alternative medicine?

Dr. Ramzi Amri makes a stern case on the other Q/A site. Let me cut to the chase: Mr. Jobs allegedly chose to undergo all sorts of alternative treatment options before opting for conventional ...
16
votes
1answer
1k views

Is osteopathic medicine evidence based?

There seems to be a lot of conflation of osteopathic medicine with other alternative medicines, even questions about whether or not it is an alternative medicine or mainstream. In the U.S. ...
5
votes
1answer
491 views

Does the Buteyko method improve asthma symptoms?

The Buteyko breathing method is based on the assumption that many health problems are caused by hyperventilation. By training people to breath less, it claims that (amongst other symptoms) asthma ...
12
votes
1answer
9k views

Does black seed oil help treat various cancers, asthma, epilepsy, liver conditions, high blood pressure and more?

Does anyone know if the scientific claims about black seed oil talked about here are true: One of black seed's primary bioactive components is thymolquinone, or TQ, which is found in its ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views

Does or could Theta Healing work?

There have been various claims that a process called 'Theta Healing' can achieve profound improvements in people's health. Various books and papers mention it, not to mention the fact that it's had ...
9
votes
1answer
4k views

Is acid reflux (“heartburn”) caused by having too little stomach acid?

According to a number of websites, "almost everything you have been told about heartburn, indigestion, and common stomach ailments are lies", and heartburn is actually caused by too little stomach ...
10
votes
1answer
2k views

Does Bioptron VIP (Visible Incoherent Polarized) Light Therapy heal wounds and help with skin problems?

Does Zepter's Bioptron Light Therapy fall into science-based medicine (rigorously tested, proven benefits, sound principles...) or is it "alternative medicine" pseudo-science/fraud? BIOPTRON can ...
7
votes
1answer
556 views

Are there documented cases of people that were cured from cancer without surgery,radiation and/or chemotherapy?

It's a typical claim of many alternative therapies: a cure for cancer. I was wondering if there are any documented cases of people who were cured from cancer without any of the typical therapies ...
18
votes
2answers
3k views

Does Burzynski have a miracle cancer cure being suppressed by the FDA?

I received this Mercola announcement for the movie, Burzynski about Stanislaw Burzynski's (allegedly) amazing cure for cancer, which uses antineoplastons. The Mercola article claims some fairly ...
13
votes
3answers
8k views

Does Indian Water Therapy have healing effects?

Indian Water Therapy is an ancient practice which involves drinking 1-1.5 litres of water every day as soon as you wake up, then not eating anything until 40 minutes has passed, at which point you can ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views

Is the hydrogen peroxide therapy harmful?

I'm receiving advertising (from my friends) about hydrogen peroxide therapy (oxygenated water, I think). They affirm that this treatment is a low-cost therapy based on a natural oxygenating ...
17
votes
1answer
601 views

Has yoga been shown to have a healing effect?

In a comment to one of the answers of Is there any scientific evidence that prayer can help to heal? Konerak wrote: That's for intercessory prayer. Praying for yourself has been correlated to ...
9
votes
2answers
4k views

Does earthing reduce oxidative stress and inflammation?

The other day my friend asked what I think about "earthing" claiming that their products provide electrons we used to get from walking barefoot on the earth surface and that they have positive ...
12
votes
3answers
4k views

Does gas training simulate altitude training?

I think the benefits of altitude training are well known, but a popular trend (especially in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)) is simulating altitude training with a gas mask or other device to restrict ...
4
votes
2answers
346 views

What are the plausible ways in which acupuncture might work for minor pains? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Is there any evidence for acupuncture being an effective treatment? I sometimes have back pain and some numbness / pain in one leg. They're nothing to worry about and I ...
5
votes
1answer
402 views

Are there any viable shortcuts to stop smoking?

A variety of treatments are purportedly available to aid in quitting smoking. What are effective, scientifically proven ways to quit smoking? In particular, is any treatment significantly ...
34
votes
1answer
1k views

Is acupuncture an effective treatment?

What evidence is there for or against acupuncture being an effective treatment?
9
votes
1answer
1k views

What is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and does it work?

Is there any evidence for it? How do you get qualified? Is it used in more traditional therapy?
15
votes
7answers
2k views

Is it possible to overdose on Homeopathic medicines?

How much Homeopathic medicines would be required (or considered) an overdose? Every Homeopathic site claims the treatments are safe and have no side effects, it it even possible to overdose?
4
votes
1answer
3k views

What is a Nosode?

Homeopathy literature likes to compare Nosode remedies with traditional vaccinations, does this have any validity?