Monthly Archives: June 2025
This is by far the most frequently asked questions I get when giving lectures or joining discussions about so-called alternative medicine (SCAM). People usually hope for an easy answer with perhaps 2 or 3 reasons that stick out. Sadly, this is not possible: there are many reasons, and their importance varies depending on dozens of circumstances.
Here are 12 options for what I consider to be the main reasons. My list is based on both the published evidence and on my 30 + years of researching SCAM:
1. Dissatisfaction with Conventional Medicine
This is the reason that is often thought to be the most important one. I doubt that this is the case. True, many people turn to alternative medicine due to perceived limitations of conventional treatments, such as ineffective results, long wait times, risk of adverse effects, or high costs. Dissatisfaction with conventional medicine is relevant (and often justified) but it is not usually the main factor.
2. Misinformation
I have grown to be convinced that misinformation should be on top of this list. People are told copious amounts of utter nonsense about SCAM. Misinformation originates from practitioners, journalists, the Internet, social media, friends, relatives, VIPs, manufacturers, and sometimes even from politicians. If people had reliable information about SCAM, not many would use it, I am sure.
3. Holistic and Approach
SCAM practitioners and enthusiasts regularly emphasizes holistic care, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual health. People seeking SCAM are often drawn to its emphasis on balance, well-being and whole person care. I have often pointed out that this is merely another form of misinformation: any good healthcare is about the whole person, and most of SCAM is far from holistic.
4. Fewer Side Effects
Some believe SCAMs, such as homeopathy or naturopathy, have fewer or less severe side effects compared to pharmaceutical drugs or invasive procedures. This is mostly true but, at the same time, it is based on misinformation. The value of a therapy does not depend on its risks; it depends on whether it generates more benefit than risks. And, as we have discussed ad nauseam on my blog, most SCAMs do not rank highly on this score.
5. Personal Empowerment
SCAM often involves active patient participation, such as lifestyle changes or self-administered interventions. This can make individuals feel more in control of their health. People who feel strongly about such issues should, I think, should be reminded that personal empowerment exists in conventional medicine too – only when it comes to it, for instance, when a physician asks a patient to change her lifestyle, it is often not accepted or even frowned upon.
6. Distrust of Pharmaceutical Industry
Distrust in the pharmaceutical industry or the medical/scientific establishment, often fueled by concerns about profit motives or overmedication, pushes some people towards SCAM. This argument is voiced regularly; it really belongs to the first-listed reason above. The sentiment is a powerful motivator, I am sure. Moreover, it seems to become more and more widespread. Personally, I think a certain level of distrust is healthy. What puzzles me, however, is that distrust is so often completely suspended by enthusiasts when if comes to the SCAM industry.
7. Personalized Care
SCAM practitioners often offer individualized remedies and attention. Many people feel that these are lacking in conventional settings. The argument sounds reasonable; yet, I would urge patients to consider that even a totally individualized nonsense must still result in nonsense and can hardly be preferable to a non-individualized but effective therapy.
9. Affluence
There is plenty of evidence to show that, in the West, it is predominantly wealthy people who try SCAM. This implies that many of us have enough cash in our pockets and therefore don’t mind investing some of it in this or that SCAM. The motto seems akin to ‘keeping up with the Joneses’: if so-and-so can afford to have SCAM sessions, I surely must do the same!
10. Education
Most of the surveys on SCAM use demonstrate that SCAM users tend to be well educated. After many years of looking into these issues, I suspect that they are well-educated alright – but not well enough. They often seem to have a superficial understanding of the issues involved. Yet, sadly their knowledge is not deep enough to realize when they are led up the garden path.
11. Time and empathy
In General, SCAM practitioners offer their patients more time than conventional healthcare providers. Many people therefore consult SCAM practitioners – sometimes even when they are aware that the SCAM therapy they are getting is ineffective. They crave empathy, sympathy, warmth, attention, etc. All of this needs time – time that is unavailable under the conventional healthcare systems. Here we have gone full circle: conventional medicine’s lack of time is one of the factors that contributes strongly to the dissatisfaction listed under No1.
12. Efficacy
You may have noticed that I left the most obvious reason to the last: SCAM is employed because it is effective! As we have seen over and over again on this blog, most SCAMs are not effective or not as effective as we are led to believe. Yet, some people are convinced otherwise. Who is correct, the individual experience or the scientific evidence? I have tried to explain many times why our experience can be seriously misleading. Those who still don’t get it may be well educated but, as I pointed out above, not well enough.
There are, of course, many further reasons why people use SCAM. The whole area, it turns out on closer inspection, is a veritable minefield. Many of the reasons are criticisms of conventional medicine in disguise, and conventional healthcare practitioners could, in my view, improve their clinical routine dramatically, if only they considered them carefully.
I recently received the following comment on a post from 2022 on King Charles and Laurence van der Post:
I doubt that Van der Post was the original influence on Charles to adhere to alternative or natural medicine. After all, his mother was a patient of homeopath Marjorie Blackie in the 1960s and ’70s. Other than that it does look like much of Van der Post’s influence on Charles might have been benign and helpful, even if he was not an entirely trustworthy figure. And you have to ask, has anyone around Prince Charles ever been a most trustworthy figure? His father, brother Andrew, even his Mum?
The question, “has anyone around Prince Charles ever been a most trustworthy figure? “, prompted me to look into an aspect that had been on my mind for some time and my book CHARLES THE ALTERNATIVE KING did not cover:
Jimmy Savile.
As most readers will know, Jimmy Savile was a British VIP, DJ, and television presenter who became infamous posthumously for his extensive sexual abuse of hundreds of victims over decades. His connections to high-profile figures, including Margaret Thatcher, and BBC personnel, are well-documented. Far less well-known are his relations with King Charles (at the time Prince Charles, of course). Here is what my research found about it:
Savile’s relationship with King Charles started in the 1980s and lasted until Savile’s death. It was facilitated by Savile’s high-profile work with charities, particularly hospitals like Stoke Mandeville and Leeds General Infirmary. According to Dan Davies, the Duke of Edinburgh viewed Jimmy Savile as “useful for his eldest son when it came to the common touch”. Charles reportedly saw Savile as a charismatic figure with a knack for public engagement. And Princess Diana would describe Savile as “her husband’s mentor”. Eventually, this led to Savile being invited into the royal circle as an informal advisor. His advisory role focused on public relations, e.g.:
- He provided guidance on how Charles could improve his public image. This included suggestions on public appearances and managing press interactions.
- Catherine Mayer’s biography mentions that Savile was involved in drafting or advising on speeches for Charles.
- Savile’s connections gave him an opportunity to offer Charles advice on navigating the public eye. Letters from Charles to Savile, spanning 20 years, reveal a trusting relationship, with Charles addressing Savile as “My Dear Jimmy” and seeking his input on various matters.
Savile’s involvement in health policy discussions with Charles was significant, particularly given Charles’ keen interest and activities in so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) e.g.:
- In her biography, Catherine Mayer recounts discussions about hospital services at Highgrove (date unspecified but likely 1980s-1990s), where health officials were surprised to hear Charles introduce Savile as “my health adviser, Jimmy Savile”. This story once was also repeated to me once by an eye-witness of the event.
- The new wing of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital was opened by Princess Diana, accompanied by Prince Charles and Jimmy Savile, on August 4, 1983.
- Charles repeatedly wrote to Savile asking for advice on various health-related matters.
Handwritten letters from Charles, uncovered after Savile’s death in 2011, revealed a personal rapport, with Charles inviting Savile to dinners at Highgrove and Buckingham Palace. Moreover, Charles once thanked Savile for advice on a “health matter” and expressed his hope for his continued input.
During the 1980s, when Charles’ marriage to Diana was under strain, Savile was reportedly called upon to help. A 2012 report mentions Savile being asked to assist with damage control after a documentary painted the royal family in a negative light. Charles sent Savile a Christmas card in 2003, Cuban cigars and gold cufflinks for his 80th birthday with a note saying, “Nobody will ever know what you have done for this country, Jimmy”. Charles also considered Savil for an official role as a media adviser and even as a potential godfather to Prince Harry in 1984.
Upon Savile’s death in October 2011, a Clarence House spokeswoman stated, “The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile’s death and their thoughts are with his family at this time.” In 2012, when Savile’s widespread sexual abuse finally was made public, no personal reaction by Charles is on record. A 2012 statement from Clarence House emphasized that Charles had no awareness of Savile’s criminal behavior.
Yet, allegations about Savile’s had been circulating for decades, e.g.:
- The first recorded incident of abuse linked to Savile dates back to 1955 in Manchester, where he managed a dance hall.
- While employed as a presenter on Top of the Pops and Jim’ll Fix It, rumors about Savile’s behavior with young girls were reportedly “common knowledge” within the BBC and among those who worked closely with him. A female victim reported to the police, for example, that she was assaulted by Savile, but the file was lost, and no action was taken.
- The earliest known police investigation into Savile occurred in 1958. It concluded there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges for sexual offenses.
- During the 1970s, Savile was a regular visitor to Duncroft, a girls’ school in Surrey for emotionally disturbed teenagers. There he abused girls, and one victim reported being placed in isolation for days after complaining about Savile’s inappropriate touching.
- In a 2000 TV documentary by Louis Theroux, Savile addressed rumors about being a pedophile and claimed his knighthood in 1990 cleared him of suspicion.
- Savile was interviewed under caution by police in 2007 regarding allegations of abuse.
- In 2008, he initiated legal action against a newspaper for linking him to abuse. The police investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
- In 2009, the police investigated an assault at Duncroft School, but the Crown Prosecution Service determined there was not enough evidence to proceed.
- A 2011 Newsnight investigation into Savile’s actions was scheduled for broadcast on December 7, 2011, but was canceled by BBC executives.
The fact that Charles had so heavily and regularly relied on Savile for advice on various important matters, including healthcare, raises questions, I think, about common sense, due process, critical assessment and informed judgment – not only of Charles but also his of the presumably extensive staff in charge of guarding him
Main sources:
In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy Savile eBook : Davies, Dan: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Charles: The Heart of a King eBook : Mayer, Catherine: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
Prince Charles’ Letters to Pedophile Jimmy Savile Revealed in Documentary
Ithy – Understanding the Relationship Between Prince Charles and Jimmy Savile
Prince Charles wrote to Jimmy Savile for PR advice, newly revealed letters claim | The Independent
PS
I probably have missed several points and events; please let me know, if you know more.
It has been reported that a chiropractor has been sentenced to 20 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution for Medicare fraud. A federal jury in Peoria had convicted Carrie Musselman, 48, following a trial in February. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office Central Illinois district, Musselman stole more than $2.5 million from Medicare and a dozen insurance companies. Prosecutors say Musselman defrauded the insurers in multiple ways. For example, Musselman submitted fraudulent insurance claims for services that were not performed by medical doctors as claimed, but instead by mid-level providers, resulting in a higher reimbursement. Musselman also did not provide certain services she claimed for reimbursement, such as allergy injections for patients.
According to prosecutors, they were given oral drops which were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration and were considered experimental. “This case should serve as a warning to anyone who would commit fraud against health insurance,” said Acting United States Attorney Gregory Gilmore. “We will seek out fraud, waste, and abuse and prosecute those who engage in it.” In handing down the sentence on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm also determined Musselman committed perjury in her testimony. He said Musselman was aware she was committing fraud and was encouraging the fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
______________________________
Here is what else I could find out about Musselman:
Carrie Ann Musselman graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Missouri, in 2005, earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. She also holds a certification in massage therapy. She owns and operates Preferred Care Medical Center, located at 1932 S. Main St., Eureka, IL 61530, with additional offices at various times in El Paso, Monticello, Metamora, Peoria, and Roanoke. Her practice focuses on spinal adjustments and holistic healthcare, specializing in conditions like arthritis, back pain, neck pain, headaches, and poor range of motion.
In September 2022, Musselman was indicted on 13 counts, including one count of healthcare fraud, two counts of obstructing a federal audit, and ten counts of wire fraud (a federal crime in the US defined under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 involving the use of interstate or international communications (such as phone calls, emails, text messages) to intentionally deceive someone for financial or personal gain). A federal jury in Peoria convicted her on February 24, 2025, of one count of healthcare fraud and five counts of wire fraud for defrauding Medicare and other insurance companies out of over $1.5 million (with some sources citing up to $2.5 million) between May 2016 and November 2018. The obstruction charges were dropped.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Musselman engaged in multiple fraudulent practices at Preferred Care Medical Center:
- Misrepresentation of Providers: She falsely claimed services were provided by physicians when they were performed by nurse practitioners or physician’s assistants, leading to higher reimbursements. In some cases, Medicare would not have paid if the true provider was disclosed.
- Billing for Non-Rendered Services: Musselman billed for services not provided, such as neurostimulators and allergy injections. Instead of injections, patients received experimental oral drops unapproved by the FDA.
- Electroacupuncture Fraud: She misrepresented electroacupuncture as surgically implanted neurostimulators to secure payments that would otherwise not have been covered.
- False Statements During Audits: She allegedly provided false information about collaborating physicians during federal audits in November 2018 and December 2019 to obstruct investigations.
Everyone who has followed this blog for a while will know that such crimes by chiropractors are depressingly frequent.
Yes, we have met him before. Recently, I came across Vickers again though one of my recent posts describing the story of a young Cambridge student who died following his advice.
Vickers describes himself as follows:
Dr. Patrick Vickers is the Creator and Founder of the Advanced Gerson Therapy Protocol; the world’s premier protocol for the treatment of cancer and degenerative disease. Chronicled in the epic documentary, The Truth About Cancer: A Global Quest, and a repeatedly invited guest on countless podcasts around the globe, Dr. Vickers is one of the most recognizable faces in natural medicine and the face of the Gerson Therapy around the world. His patient is also chronicled in the documentary, The Beautiful Truth.
At the age of 11, after witnessing a miraculous recovery from a chiropractic adjustment, Dr. Vickers’ passion for natural medicine was inspired. Born and raised outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Vickers obtained undergraduate degrees in Pre-Med from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and LIFE University in Marietta, Georgia before going on to receive his Doctorate of Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, New York in 1997.
While a student at NYCC, Dr. Vickers befriended the iconic Charlotte Gerson; the last-living daughter of Dr. Max Gerson, M.D. who Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, called, “The most eminent genius in medical history,” as Dr. Gerson was reversing a vast majority of degenerative diseases, including terminal cancer, up until his death in 1959. To date, eight movies have chronicled Dr. Gerson’s work.
Upon graduation and recognizing Dr. Vickers fervent passion for Dr. Gerson’s therapy, Charlotte Gerson invited Dr. Vickers to come live with her and study Dr. Gerson’s handwritten files of all his active patients from 1905-1959. Dr. Vickers remains one of the few people in the world to ever study Dr. Gerson’s personal files.
Fifteen years ago, seeing a desperate need to preserve Dr. Gerson’s legacy and the progression of his therapy, Dr. Vickers created the Advanced Gerson Therapy Protocol and Clinic which, rapidly, became the world’s premier clinic for the treatment of cancer and advanced disease.
With the rapidly changing, increasingly dangerous. societal, political and economic conditions in Mexico and around the world today, making it nearly impossible to efficiently, safely and peacefully carry out the Gerson Therapy in a clinical setting. Dr. Vickers has recently created his Three-Month, Advanced Gerson Protocol Home Program to replace all former, clinical operations. With no evidence to suggest that clinical outcomes are increased by receiving the Gerson Therapy in a clinical setting, Dr. Vickers remains dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, patient-centric protocol for cancer and degenerative disease while guaranteeing the greatest personalized attention and cost-effective solution available anywhere in the world today.
_____________________________
Allow me to make just 7 short point based on Vickers statements:
- Dr. Patrick Vickers: he is a chiro and not a proper doctor (are US chiros allowed to treat cancer?*).
- the world’s premier protocol: I see no evidence for this claim.
- miraculous recovery from a chiropractic adjustment: it ought to be ‘miraculous’, as chiropractic adjustments are not based on evidence.
- Dr. Gerson was reversing a vast majority of degenerative diseases, including terminal cancer: there is no sound evidence that Gerson ever reversed a single case of cancer.
- the world’s premier clinic for the treatment of cancer and advanced disease: this must be the most pompous untruth I’ve heard for a long time.
- the most comprehensive, patient-centric protocol for cancer and degenerative disease: this must be the second most pompous untruth I’ve heard for a long time.
- cost-effective solution: I see no evidence for this claim.
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As Vickers seems a bit shy about disclosing all the facts, let me try to add to his CV what he seems to have forgotten:
Vickers founded and directed the Northern Baja Gerson Center in Rosarito, Mexico. The clinic offered treatments like:
Hyperthermia therapy (water based treatment)
Oxygen enhancement therapies
Ozone therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen chamber
Laetrile (B17)
High dose intravenous vitamin C
Chelation
Beamer math
Coley’s toxins therapy
Dendritic cell therapy
Infrared therapy
Frankincense oil
Natural enzymes
CoQ10
Due to “challenges” in operating clinics in Mexico, Vickers transitioned to offering his “Three-Month Advanced Gerson Protocol Home Program” whichincludes Gerson-specific supplies (e.g., coffee, flax oil, potassium powder), high-dose supplements like curcumin, selenium, CoQ10, and niacin, educational videos and regular consultations with Vickers and his team. The program is as unproven as Gerson’s original therapy. Vicker’s Medline-listed papers seem to amount to exactly zero!
Vickers asserts that Gerson Therapy is heavily censored by medical authorities and media due to its threat to the conventional medical industry. He cites alleged suppression of Dr. Gerson’s work as evidence. Vickers claims his therapy has the potential to disrupt the trillion-dollar medical industry. Vickers is active on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, sharing patient stories. He is a frequent guest on podcasts like BetterHealthGuy, Rational Wellness, and CancerTalks, discussing the Gerson therapy. Vickers’ approach is rooted in a belief that conventional cancer treatments are limited or even detrimental and that the Gerson therapy offers a more natural, effective alternative. None of these claims are supported by sound evidence.
This review aimed to analyze the effects of laughter-inducing therapy on anxiety, pain, and stress in children by synthesizing existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The researchers conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis, following the Cochrane Collaboration’s methodology for systematic literature review and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. They selected and evaluated 12 studies for quality using the Risk of Bias 2.0 tool.
Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, which showed that clown therapy produced:
- a moderate effect on pain relief,
- and a large effect on anxiety reduction in pediatric patients.
The authors concluded that this review highlights the potential of laughter-inducing therapies as an effective clinical intervention for reducing anxiety, pain, and stress in pediatric patients. These findings provide evidence supporting the use of laughter-based interventions as alternative or complementary approaches in medical settings. The review also underscores the need for further research across diverse clinical environments to validate the effectiveness of laughter-inducing therapies in broader pediatric populations. Overall, the incorporation of laughter-inducing therapy into clinical practice may play a valuable role in enhancing the overall well-being of pediatric patients.
In my book, I dedicated a chapter to this approach; here are some excerpts from it:
Laughter is said to decrease blood levels of cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone, and 3,4-dihydrophenylacetic acid (a major dopamine catabolite), indicating a reversal of the stress response.[1] Laughter therapy is claimed to provide physical benefits, such as helping to:
- Relax muscles throughout the body
- Trigger the release of endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers)
- Relieve pain
- Improve mental functions (i.e., alertness, memory, creativity)
- Improve overall attitude and well-being
- Reduce stress/tension
- Improve sleep
- Strengthen social bonds and relationships.
Many of these outcomes are, however, not as well-documented as claimed by proponents. A systematic review concluded that “trials with clown doctors in pediatric population have shown conflicting results in allaying anxiety amongst children undergoing either hospitalization or invasive procedures.”[2] Another assessment was more positive: “the meta-analysis confirmed the effectiveness of pre-operative clown therapy on reducing psychological distress in children and parents.”[3] Yet another review concluded that “there exists sufficient evidence to suggest that laughter has some positive, quantifiable effects on certain aspects of health.”[4] Finally, the most recent recent review showed that laughter therapy “can have beneficial effects on a variety of health-related outcomes including mental health, physical health, and physiological parameters.”[5]
References in my book:
[1] Yim (2016). [2] Sridharan and Sivaramakrishnan (2016). [3] Zhang et al. (2017). [4] Mora-Ripoll (2010). [5] Stiwi et al. (2022)______________________
So, there is a surprising amount of encouraging evidence. But there is also a void of answers to important questions, e.g.:
- How do the effects compare to conventional treatments?
- How long do the effects last?
- How expensive is the treatment?
- How easy is it to implement in a hospital setting?
Kay Allison “Kate” Shemirani (born 1965) is, according to Wikipedia, a British conspiracy theorist, anti-vaccine activist and former nurse who lost her licence to practise in 2020 for misconduct. She is best known for promoting conspiracy theories about COVID-19, vaccinations and 5G technology. Shemirani has been described by The Jewish Chronicle as a leading figure of a movement that includes conspiracy theorists as well as far-left and far-right activists.
When Kate’s daughter, Paloma was diagnosed with cancer, doctors told her she had a high chance of survival with chemotherapy. But in 2024, seven months later, she died – having refused the treatment. Now Marianna Spring for the BBC reported that Paloma’s brothers blame their mother’s anti-medicine conspiracy theories for Paloma’s death aged 23. Here are a few excerpts of this excellent article:
Kate and her ex-husband, Paloma’s father Faramarz Shemirani, wrote to the BBC saying they have evidence “Paloma died as a result of medical interventions given without confirmed diagnosis or lawful consent”. Paloma’s elder brother Sebastian disagrees: “My sister has passed away as a direct consequence of my mum’s actions and beliefs and I don’t want anyone else to go through the same pain or loss that I have.” Both brothers believe social media companies should take stronger action against medical misinformation – which the BBC has found is being actively recommended on several major sites. “I wasn’t able to stop my sister from dying. But it would mean the world to me if I could make it that she wasn’t just another in a long line of people that die in this way,” says Gabriel.
It is getting harder to fight medical misinformation because of the prominence of figures such as Robert F Kennedy Jr, who have previously expressed unscientific views – says oncologist Dr Tom Roques, vice-president of the Royal College of Radiologists. When you have a US health and human services secretary “who actively promotes views like the link between vaccines and autism that have been debunked years ago, then that makes it much easier for other people to peddle false views,” he says. “I think the risk is that more harmful alternative treatments are getting more mainstream. That may do people more active harm.”
Paloma brothers say it was their father who first got into conspiracy theories, which piqued their mother’s interest. The children absorbed outlandish ideas, including that the Royal Family were shape-shifting lizards, says Gabriel. “As a young child, you trust your parents. So you see that as a truth,” he says.
According to her sons, Kate Shemirani’s anti-medicine views were accelerated in 2012, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though she had the tumour removed through surgery, she credits alternative therapies for her recovery. On social media, she explains how she used juices and coffee enemas, i.e. the Gerson therapy.
In late 2023, Paloma began to have chest pains and breathing difficulties. Eventually, her doctors gave her the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Untreated, this type of cancer can be fatal, but doctors told Paloma she had an 80% chance of recovery if she had chemotherapy.
Kate Shemirani texted Paloma’s boyfriend, Ander, to say: “TELL PALOMA NOT TO SIGN [OR] VERBALLY CONSENT TO CHEMO OR ANY TREATMENT.” Medical staff discussed safeguarding concerns about Paloma among themselves and wrote that they had “a concern regarding parental influence” on her. But they also thought that she did have the capacity to make her own decisions.
For advice, Paloma reached out to a former partner of Kate Shemirani called Patrick Vickers, an alternative health practitioner. When Paloma asked him about the “80% chance of cure” the doctors had said chemotherapy would offer, Mr Vickers said that was “exaggerated”. He encouraged her to start Gerson therapy and to maybe consider chemotherapy if her symptoms did not improve after six weeks. Mr Vickers told the BBC that any “assertions that I played a role in her [Paloma’s] death are legally inaccurate”.
Paloma made up her mind. She decided not to pursue chemotherapy – at least for the time being – and would try Gerson therapy to start with. Some of her friends noticed how she became more and more unwell. On one video call, Paloma said she had a new lump in her armpit, and her mother had told her it meant that the cancer was going out of her body. Sebastian and Gabriel were so worried that Gabriel started a legal case. He was not arguing Paloma did not have capacity, but he wanted an assessment of the appropriate medical treatment for her.
But events overtook them and the case ended without a conclusion in July – because Paloma had died. She had suffered a heart attack caused by her tumour. She was taken to hospital, but after several days, her life support was switched off.
_________________________
Another tragic and avoidable death brought about by the dreadful Gerson therapy. We have discussed this treatment many times before, e.g.:
- Gerson diet almost killed a former model
- The Gerson Therapy: possibly the worst cancer quackery of them all
- ‘Censored for curing cancer’: the Gerson therapy re-visited
- Gerson therapy: a treatment to avoid at all cost
If only Paloma had looked at my blog! I could have easily met up with her and tried to persuade her to save her own life.
Watch out for one of my next posts; it will focus on the above-cited Patrick Vickers.
Common Harms of CSM
- Musculoskeletal discomfort: Temporary soreness, stiffness, or pain in the muscles or joints after treatment.
- Headaches: Some individuals may experience headaches following spinal manipulation.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired or experiencing fatigue after treatment.
These harms occur after CSM in about 50% of all patients. They impact on their quality of life and usually last 1-3 days.
Serious Harms of CSM
- Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) and stroke: A tear in the vertebral artery can lead to stroke; the harm can be permanent.
- Death: A stroke can be fatal.
- Atlantoaxial dislocation
- Spinal cord injury: Damage to the spinal cord, potentially resulting in numbness, weakness, or paralysis.
- Herniated discs: Manipulation can exacerbate existing disc issues or cause a new disc herniation.
- Fractures: Osteoporotic patients or those with bone conditions are at risk of vertebral fractures.
- Cauda equina syndrome: Compression of nerves in the lower spine, potentially causing bowel or bladder dysfunction.
- Nerve damage: Injury to spinal nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- Eye Injuries: these include central retinal artery occlusion, nystagmus, Wallenberg syndrome, ptosis, loss of vision, ophthalmoplegia, dipiopia and Horner’s syndrome.
The frequency of these harms is not known.
Other Risks
- Neglect: This happens whenever a chiropractor treats a condition that can more effectively be treated with another therapy.
- Misleading advice: This occurs whenever a chiropractor gives advice outside his area of competence, for instance, a recommendation against immunisations.
- False diagnoses: Chiropractors often diagnose a ‘vertebral subluxation’, a condition that exists only in their fantasy.
- Worsening of existing conditions: Manipulation may exacerbate underlying spinal problems or conditions like spinal instability.
- Waste of money: This occurs each time a patient pays for ineffective CSM.
The frequency of these risks is not well-documented but can be estimated to be very high.
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I have often pointed out that the value of a therapy is not solely determined by its potential for harm. It depends crucially on the risk/benefit profile. The benefits of CSM are few and mostly uncertain. Thus the question arises:
DO THE BENEFITS OF CSM OUTWEIGH ITS RISKS?
I let you, the reader, answer this question.
PS
References for the above statements can be found in my book.
We are about half way through 2025 which is an opportune occasion to again check how research-active the various branches of so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) currently are. To get a rough impression, I yesterday went on Medline and did a few very simple searches. They all used this search term:
“2025, [name of therapy in question], clinical trial”.
The findings are, I think, impressive. Here are some SCAM modalities ranked by the number of hits I received:
- dietary supplements 790
- herbal medicine 455
- acupuncture 407
- mindfulness 338
- massage 129
- yoga 98
- tai chi 60
- essential oil 31
- chiropractic 19
- osteopathic manipulative therapy 13
- homeopathy 11
- naturopathy 6
I should stress that not all of these hits are truly clinical trials (Medline is not precise in that), neither does Medline capture all SCAM journals. So, the figures are by no means accurate but they do give a rough picture of what is going on.
And what is going on?
Unsurprisingly, commercial products are heading the list. Acupuncture in the 3rd place might surprize some; here I must add that the 407 articles come to ~90% (my guess) from China. I have often warned on this blog to not take these papers seriously, as they are predominantly promotion rather than science. Mindfulness on the 4th place is, I think, a reflection of the current hype around this therapy.
The rest is as one might expect – except for the dismal ranking of chiropractic, osteopathy, homeopathy and naturopathy. The suggestion here is, I fear, that these practitioners seem to have very little interest in doing research. Why? Perhaps they know that their treatments cannot withstand the rigor of a decent clinical trial?
In fact, with a bit of fantasy, one could even see an interesting correlation between the evidence-base and the research-activity of SCAM: the treatments that are best supported by evidence seem to have the highest level of research-activity. Conversely, the ones that have the weakest evidence-base seem to have the least research going on.
PS
My analysis does, of course, say nothing about the quality of the science which is, as we often discuss here on this blog, frequenlty dismal.
Robert F Kennedy Jr. is, as we all know, the United States secretary of health and human services. He went to Harvard, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in American history and literature. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982 and a Master of Laws from Pace University in 1987. He has no education or training in science or medicine, yet he became one of America’s most voiciferous anti-vaccination campainers. Trump nominated him as Health secretary but more than 80 organizations voiced opposition to Kennedy’s nomination. Despite of all opposition, Kennedy got the job.
- He claimed: “There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective.” (2023 podcast, as cited during his Senate confirmation hearing.)
- He said: “COVID-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people. The people who are most immune are Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese.” (July 2023 conversation, reported by the New York Post.)
- He claimed the polio vaccine “killed more people than it saved.” (Reported in posts on X.)
- He stated that the HPV vaccine “causes cancer.” (Reported in posts on X.)
- He noted that “Thimerosal is immensely toxic to the brain tissue” (Reported in posts on X.) … yet, it is harmless in the doses used in vaccines.
- He claimed the 1918 Spanish flue epidemic was caused by the flue vaccine … which did not even exist at that time.
- He claimed: “Replacing the seed oils used to cook Big Macs with beef tallow would make the burgers good for people.” (February 2025 interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.)
- He insisted that “Autism comes from vaccines.” (in 2023, as cited by Common Dreams.)
- He claimed that fluoride in public water causes “cancer, IQ loss, thyroid disease, and other health problems.” (posts on X and interviews, as reported in 2024.)
- He said that “WiFi radiation causes cancer, cellphone tumors, and opens your blood-brain barrier.” (a 2023 podcast with Joe Rogan.)
- He remarked that the “NIH told doctors and patients not to report injuries after taking an abortion drug.” (a February 2025 interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.)
- He claimed that “Lyme disease is a bioweapon.” (Reported in posts on X.)
- It undermines public health efforts.
- It endangers individual well-being.
- It leads to vaccine hesitancy.
- It causes outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles.
- It promotes distrust in medical institutions.
- It discourages people from seeking evidence-based treatments.
- It promotes unproven or harmful alternatives.
- It spreads fear and uncertainty amplifying anxiety.
- It leads to social polarization.
- It delays critical interventions.
- It increases health disparities.
- It strains healthcare systems.
- It contributed to millions of preventable deaths during pandemics.
- It erodes trust in science.
- It fosters dangerous behaviors.
- It threatens collective health outcomes.
- It particularly puts vulnerable populations, including those with lower health literacy, at risk.
Conclusion?
Yes, you guessed it Kennedy is a menace and should resign asap!
Regular readers of this blog will know of my long-standing concerns regarding the trustworthiness of research, particularly when it originates from China. I have addressed these issues many times, e.g.:
- Research misconduct in China: an ever increasing worry
- Increasing concerns about SCAM research originating from China
- Concerning developments in acupuncture research: is there something rotten in the state of China?
- If you cannot argue against your critic, have him jailed (a chilling story from China)
- Data fabrication in China is an ‘open secret’
- Acupuncture versus Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Sciatica – another finding that is too good to be true?
- A TCM mixture improves the prognosis of heart attacks? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
- Beware of Chinese acupuncture trials!
- Acupuncture for pain: plenty of useless papers and very little reliable evidence
- A meta-analysis of Chinese herbal medicine for lowering blood pressure
- JAMA just published another truly awful acupuncture study
- More compelling reasons for distrusting Chinese research papers
- A new acupuncture trial with a positive result – alas, it seems too good to be true
- Acupuncture for the prevention of headache? How to fool (almost) everyone with an RCT
- Acupuncture for male infertility (MI): a story of sloppy research endangering public health
- Reviews of Chinese Herbal Medicine: It’s a process akin to money laundering
- Disgracefully low methodological quality of systematic reviews on acupuncture
Now, some further relevant insights into these issues have emerged. A survey was conducted through a collaboration between international publisher Taylor & Francis and the National Science Library at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). It involved 1,777 students, researchers, and librarians from China, and revealed significant uncertainty about research and publishing ethics:
- 35.9% of respondents were unsure about the responsibilities involved in article authorship, with master students showing the highest levels of confusion.
- A considerable number of respondents reported engaging in ‘gift authorship’ – either adding an author to a paper or agreeing to be named as an author without meeting proper authorship criteria.
- 31% of respondents reported using services offered by third parties to help with publishing in international journals. A concerning number considered activities typically associated with paper mills acceptable, such as writing parts of a paper or adding authors and citations chosen by the agent.
- Only 55.4% of the survey respondents stated that they had access to any training in ethics and integrity, with an even smaller proportion having formal training.
The study’s authors conclude that researchers at all levels need timely, accessible, and suitable training in research integrity and publishing ethics. This training should include undergraduates and those at institutions responsible for upholding overall integrity standards. Essential topics such as authorship responsibilities and working with ethical third-party manuscript services must be part of mandatory training.
Dr Sabina Alam, Director of Publishing Ethics & Integrity at Taylor & Francis, said: “Our survey findings highlight the urgent need for training for students and researchers at all levels in China, a need we believe is also present for many students and researchers across the world. Without this, the knowledge gaps we’ve found leave researchers susceptible to exploitation by unethical organisations, such as paper mills, and many might unknowingly engage in misconduct. It’s understandable that 80% of those who responded to our survey are concerned about the impact of research integrity issues on the trustworthiness of research publications,” Alam added. “Partnerships between publishers and research institutions will be crucial for tackling global research integrity challenges, including developing and implementing comprehensive training in research integrity and publishing ethics. A key reason for our collaboration with the National Science Library at CAS was to explore important issues, and we believe these results from our Joint Lab demonstrate the benefits of working together in this way.”
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I think I should stress that these data and remarks apply to all types of research. The situation in so-called alternative medicine (SCAM) research is clearly more severe. This, I think, is true worldwide but particularly acute for research originating from China.
