We all have heard of so-called alternative therapies but few of us are aware of the fact that there are also alternative diagnoses. These are diagnoses used regularly by practitioners of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) that have no basis on science, or – to put it simply – that do not exist. They are nonetheless popular with SCAM practitioners and allegedly cause a wide range of non-specific symptoms such as:
- anxiety,
- brain fog,
- constipation,
- depression,
- dizziness,
- fatigue,
- headaches,
- heart palpitations,
- insomnia,
- irritability,
- muscle and joint pain,
- loss of appetite,
- loss of libido,
- weight gain.
In this series of posts, I will briefly discuss some of these diagnoses and list the treatments that SCAM practitioners might recommend for them.
Adrenal Fatigue
Adrenal fatigue is not the same as adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease; it is a term coined by a chiropractor who claimed that the stresses of modern life tire out the adrenal glands. In turn, this phenomenon allegedly leads to generalised weariness.
There is not evidence that this is true, nor that adrenal fatigue even exists. A systematic review of the evidence concluded that “there is no substantiation that adrenal fatigue is an actual medical condition.”
Yet, SCAM practitioners advise to cure adrenal fatigue with a range of dietary supplements (e.g. fish oil, ashwagandha, rhodiola rosea, schisandra and holy basil, licorice, magnesium, various vitamins), special diets, lifestyle adjustments, stress management and many other SCAMs. They all have in common that their effectiveness is not supported by convincing evidence from rigorous clinical trials.
Candidiasis hypersensitivity
Most of us are infected by the fungus Candida albicans without being affected by it in any way. Yet, many SCAM practitioners claim that candidiasis hypersensitivity is a condition that causes symptoms like fatigue, premenstrual tension, gastrointestinal symptoms, and depression and therefore needs treating.
But, candidiasis hypersensitivity does not exist. An RCT concluded that, “in women with presumed candidiasis hypersensitivity syndrome, nystatin does not reduce systemic or psychological symptoms significantly more than placebo.”
This, however, does not stop SCAM practitioners to recommend numerous forms of SCAM to treat the condition, e.g.: dietary supplements containing probiotics, milk thistle, red thyme, barberry, garlic, or external applications of coconut oil, essential oils of peppermint oil, lavender oil, oregano oil, and tea tree. No sound evidence exists to show that ant of these SCAMs can successfully treat the condition.
Chronic intoxications
Chronic intoxications do ecist, of course. But in the realm of SCAM, they are diagosed for the sole putpose of selling their various ‘detox’ treatments. The alleged rationale is that our bodies are overloaded with all sorts ot harmful substances, for instance, from the environment, from our food, from modern drugs, or from our own metabolism.
To eliminate them, we need to ‘detox’. For that purpose, SCAM practitioners recommend a very wide range of SCAMs; in fact, it is hardly possible to identify a single form of SCAM that is not said to detoxify our bodies. Yet, for none of them is there compelling evidence that it eliminates toxins from our body. Some of the most popular detox regimen include:
- acupuncture;
- CEASE therapy;
- chelation therapy;
- crystal healing;
- cupping;
- detox diets;
- detox supplements;
- gua sha;
- homeopathy;
- homotoxicology;
- Kombucha;
- oil pulling;
- vaginal steaming.
Interim conclusion: non-existing diagnoses are perfect opportunities for SCAM practitioners to rip off gullible patients.
23 Responses to The fake diagnoses of so-called alternative medicine – PART 1
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A case, which lasts years and years, might well be 20 years or more, even included the complicity of the German “Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau”:
“Die Akte Indago / BMIB + Sparkasse Leipzig / KfW / “Nanopartikelanalysen””
https://www.allaxys.com/~kanzlerzwo/index.php?board=132
Several million Euros destroyed, but the frauds were backed up by a government organization. The fake “diagnosis” “Nanopatikelanalyse” was done by BURNING a material (blood), AND THEN claiming to know the diseases of the patient. The mistakes made are so incredibly stupid that one can one stand there in shock, how the fraudsters even dared to sued the people, who debunked the fraud.
And still, the fraudsters got away. Millions of Euros they had cashed in. The network consisted of naturopaths and medical doctors, who – on the base of the fake “diagnosis” – sold their “therapies”. A “diagnosis” is only a tool for selling treatments, which can last years and cost THOUSANDS of Euros. This is where big cash is made.
An alternate spelling for SCAM might be $CAM since that is the ultimate goal.
very good!
Why does this forum focus exclusively on criticising SCAM and SCAM practitioners? In what is probably a futile attempt to rebalance the discussion, I invite everyone to read this report:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68831061
are you not intellectually able to grasp the idea that this blog is on the subject where I have expertise: SCAM.
you seem to me like the man you goes into the local green grocer to complain that they sell no meat.
You want to distract. Open your own blog where you can discuss the linked topic.
btw: I very strongly feel that the scandal you mention is abominable and inexcusable
@Mike Grant
Um, because the overwhelming majority of real doctors and their diagnoses and treatments CAN be trusted? Completely contrary to the overwhelming majority of SCAM practitioners, who generally can’t be trusted to diagnose even a runny nose properly, let alone dispense effective treatments.
And oh, if real doctors do bad things like what you refer to, they are punished and often stripped of their license. If SCAM practitioners misdiagnose patients and sell them bogus treatments, nothing usually happens.
“… there are also alternative diagnoses. ”
One of my favorites: a chiropractor in my area claimed to treat “fuzzy vision.”
I have done research in food allergy .It is different from Classical homeopathy. Can you help me?
S D Naikar on Friday 19 April 2024 at 06:44:
“I have done research in food allergy .It is different from Classical homeopathy. Can you help me?”
I am absolutely sure that homeopathy in all strains is no food allergy. Homeopathy is fraud.
How can we help you? With a fraud or with a food allergy?
Where we can get food allergy cure? Do you think allopathy can cure food allergies? I have book by allopathy doctor who says there is no cure. Tell me where the patients go?
@S D Naikar
Nowhere. Food allergy is an out-of-control immune response and as such generally can’t be cured. There are reports that desensitization treatments sometimes help, although these must be carried out by a trained physician who is prepared and equipped to deal with anaphylactic shock – a very real risk in case of food allergy.
So that doctor is correct: generally, food allergy can’t be cured. Note that food intolerance is not the same as food allergy. Also note that SCAMmers often erroneously diagnose these conditions as the cause of the generalized, often vague symptoms mentioned above, selling patients useless herbs and supplements, in combination with haphazardly chosen dietary restrictions. This usually does not help, apart from a placebo effect. I know one such victim: she refuses to eat almost all normal food, and brings her own special (and expensive) foodstuffs at dinners and even in restaurants – but even after years on this quack-recommended diet, she still suffers from the original symptoms. So all this fussing about food and food intolerance hasn’t helped her a bit, while costing her a mint (I estimate that she spends several hundred dollars per month on supplements and special food).
If you have a real food allergy, consult a real doctor, not an SCAM practitioner, and NEVER EVER allow a SCAM practitioner to administer desensitization treatments – you run a very real risk of anaphylactic shock and subsequent death.
If you suspect to suffer from food intolerance, again consult a real doctor and/or a licensed nutritionist, also before embarking on an elimination diet to see if that helps – but don’t expect too much, especially if the symptoms are vague.
Don’t consult SCAM practitioners, as they don’t know what they’re doing. Best case, they will only take your money and sell you useless but basically harmless supplements; if you’re unlucky, they will foist a seriously restrictive but completely unnecessary diet on you.
That is all in allopathy doctor’s book (Dr Stephen Astor). For homeopathic cure there is a case study in Ullman and Ullman’ Homeopathic self care book.l have my own study different from that case.Dr Stephen Astor deals with normal food allergy patients who don’t suffer from Anaphylaxis shock.Both the books are from U S. I’m ready to come to Exeter.
@S D Naikar
‘Homeopathic cure’ is an oxymoron. Homeopathy is completely useless and can’t cure anything (except maybe hyperpecuniosis in the leathery structure called ‘the wallet’).
But I’m not so sure about Dr. Astor’s work either. From what I see, he promotes the concept of ‘hidden food allergies’ (not to be confused with ‘hidden allergens’ in food), which seems to me a bit strange. True allergies are by definition IgE-mediated immune responses, and to the best of my knowledge almost always produce unmistakable symptoms with a fast onset. Then again, I’m not an expert in the field, so maybe some allergies manifest themselves as low-grade inflammatory responses.
I will come to Exeter then only You believe me. My work is very interesting. Seeing is believing.
very well then
[but I don’t think you’ll find Richard there]
Can I meet you and Exeter professors . You were involved in the British parliament’s science and technology committee report on Allergies (sixth report).
why don’t you familiarise yourself with the available info (https://edzardernst.com/about/) before going on a wild goose chase?
It is about going for clinical trials. Food allergy patients are more in U K.
Oh god, there’s two of them.
Robert W. Ullman, ND; Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, ND, MSW. The patient’s guide to homeopathic medicine
The list of “non-specific symptoms” are congruent with undiagnosed (or undertreated) hypothyroidism.
Naturally a selection of berries and weeds will do nothing for it.