Matharu's Rants and Raves

The Quackometer has an article that describes William Alderson’s (ill-written) response to Ernst & Singh’s book "Trick or Treatment: Medicine on Trial".

The article is at http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2009/04/homeopaths-attempt-to-rubbish-ernst-and.html

gimpy’s blog calls the ARH press release stupid. I would go further. The Addenbrooks Hospital work referenced has nothing to do with homeopathy and for ARH to claim that it does is very clearly a lie. In fact, it has been known for a long time now that homeopathy is based on ideas that are demonstratably false, so it is no real surprise that homeopaths continue to mislead.

QuackWatch is a good place to get started on what homeopathy really is. Despite the fact that homeopathy is based on falsities, does the treatment alleviate a patient’s symptoms? Yes, to some degree…the famous placebo-effect. The Skeptic’s Dictionary has a a nice explanation for homeopathy and placebo, and also attempts to understand why even intelligent people are attracted to it. You may ask what’s the harm? Well, check out What’s The Harm?. And do we really want to base our society on lies? A return to magic and witch-doctors? I don’t think so.

Copyright © 2009 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Although I have generally focused on homeopaths, and even though there has been some progress in addressing pseudoscience in some UK universities, Quackometer reminded me that there are a bunch of other pseudosciences out there that appear to be accepted by the public at large. In particular, Quackometer’s article discusses the current status of chiropractic.

The problem with chiropractic is that its foundations are based on non-scientific ideas; ideas  which are still taught. Current chiropractors either don’t care or sincerely believe in what they’ve been taught even though there is no scientific evidential support, and studies show no real benefit in the practice. Either way, both scenarios scare me, especially as X-rays are being used.

I would not want to be treated by a chiropractor. Would you?

Copyright © 2009 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

I believe that homeopaths are dangerous. And The Society of Homeopaths is not only complicit in their apparent commitment of inaction against their members who make unsubstantiated claims on cures, but they are also immoral in their commitment of action against those who point out the Society’s inaction. The Quackometer article gives further updates of the failure of self-regulation within the Society of Homeopaths. What I took from this is self-evident but needs to be repeated…the deluded cannot be allowed to regulate the deluded.

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

I recently received some comments from a reader regarding my articles on homeopathy and my criticism of this pseudoscience. The reader asked if I had ever met anyone who had been treated using homeopathy and that I also should temper my vehemence; the implication being that homeopathy provided a valuable service which delivered positive results and comforted patients. My immediate reaction was that any perceived vehemence was misplaced especially in comparison to someone like PZ Myers! But the questions being raised on the value of homeopathy deserved debate.

After much consideration, I can only reinforce my opposition to the pseudoscience that is homeopathy and my exasperation at the idiocy of homeopathy’s support. Despite the claims made by the practitioners of homeopathy, there is no evidence that there is anything but a placebo at work. As a placebo, homeopathy will provide improvements for some patients within a very narrow band of illnesses. Simplistically, the benefits of positive thought. It certainly wouldn’t be able to successfully treat illnesses such as malaria for example.

The statements made by homeopaths explaining the mechanisms of how homeopathy is allegedly claimed to work have been shown to be incorrect. Yet homeopaths are unable to accept this. They have abandoned critical thinking and have deluded themselves into accepting the extraordinary when all credible evidence shows that their claims are without foundation.

So why should I care? Why should we all care? After all, the placebo effect certainly provides some benefits to some people. I’ll tell you why.

By accepting homeopathy we make it difficult to demonstrate to society the benefits of critical thinking. Without critical thinking we are saying that it’s OK to accept extraordinary claims without evidence; that it’s OK to accept pseudoscience, to accept astrology, to accept perpetual-motion machines. In short, that it’s OK to be bamboozled.

Our enlightenment, our knowledge, striving to seek the truth; this is what advances us. And critical thinking is the most powerful tool to achieve that. Without it we will be burdened by superstition and witch doctors.

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Just had a shock! From DC’s Improbable Science article on “Quackademics in USA and Canada” I found out that the Natural History Museum in London promotes the pseudo-science and quackery of homeopathy. It’s bad enough with blithering Prince Charles et al doing the wacky talk, but to have an esteemed science institution doing the same is something that is hard to take! NHM, why oh why? And it also seems that the same homeopathic “practitioner” is also working with the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, London. I don’t have the Kew details but it makes me shudder!

In previous articles I expressed a desire for critical thinking and the use of the scientific process (ie common sense!) to lead us to the truth. Have the NHM forgotten what true science is? Or are they just pandering (ie for money!) to the masses who blindly accept homeopathy despite all the real scientific evidence that indicate the falsity of homeopathy?

I’m going to think twice about providing monetary donations to the NHM when I next make my visit there as I do not want my money squandered on what has repeatedly been shown to be a lie. And that, my friends, hurts me the most as the NHM has provided me with good memories over the years. Somehow we must push back the ignorance that is being foistered on us all. I can’t believe that I’m going to quote Carl Sagan again so soon after my previous article but I feel compelled to do so:

We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces. – Carl Sagan

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. – Carl Sagan

I maintain there is much more wonder in science than in pseudoscience. And in addition, to whatever measure this term has any meaning, science has the additional virtue, and it is not an inconsiderable one, of being true. – Carl Sagan

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

A lot of people ask “What’s the harm with homeopathy?” After all, it’s only water. Homeopathy had its uses when it first started in the 18th centuary as the “treatment” generally caused less harm than the more traditional treatments at the time. But things are now different. Science has moved on and our knowledge has increased. Proper science-based treatments are very successful…not 100% successful as our knowledge is still growing and there’s still a lot to learn. But we’re getting there. I agree, though, that mistakes have been made in the past but hopefully such mistakes can be minimised.

The problem these days with so-called “alternative treatments” (and that’s a bit of a loose term that can be interpreted differently by different folks depending on their point of view or agenda) are mainly two-fold from an initial health perspective:

Firstly, some alternative treatments, such as homeopathy, may not, in themselves, cause direct harm but can stop people from seeking proper medical care. Such alternative treatments also include the “healing touch” of various religious scam artists in the US, UK, Europe and other parts of the world. This can and has lead to death.

Secondly, there are other alternative treatments which do cause direct harm.

There is also something else about that needs to be discussed. And that is the road to truth. Belief in untruths does not allow the human race to progress. Here are three quotes from Carl Sagan which are particularly relevant here:

“For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. The bamboozle has captured us. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”

“The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what’s true. We have a method, and that method helps us to reach not absolute truth, only asymptotic approaches to the truth – never there, just closer and closer, always finding vast new oceans of undiscovered possibilities. Cleverly designed experiments are the key.”

Going back to the dangers of pseudo-science and alternative medicines. People can get caught up in the lies, and these can and have lead to suffering and death. Charlatans who promote these dangers are everywhere and it’s a worrying trend that they’re increasing. All I can do right now is  point people in the right direction and hopefully they can be positively influenced or help others to see the dangers.

A website www.whatstheharm.net has started recently started which I came across in an article by Skeptico earlier last week. What’s the Harm allows you to search for incidents where pseudo-science and alternative medicines have caused harm. The site also allows you to add you own stories. Hopefully such a resource will help to combat the increasing dangers, risks and ignorance wrought by pseudo-science, alternative medicines and, of course, the charlatans.

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Skeptico has a great article on something that I’ve felt strongly about for some time. I’ve tried to introduce critical thinking processes to some people and have tried using various arguments for showing the perilous foundations that homeopathy, astrology, chiropractice, etc are built on. But most people are set in their ways and although I will continue to be quite vocal in my arguments I no longer expect people to change their minds. It’s hard for people to admit that they’re wrong and to let go of ideas they’re fond of. Of course some people do see the light and start the processes of questioning, to use critical thinking. But such people are rare. I haven’t given up. Gentle persuasion is the way to go with most people, especially with friends. However, when it comes to organisations…well, they’re fair game. Give them all you’ve got! You be the judge of the situation and act accordingly.

Copyright © 2008 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

Despite all the evidence from properly conducted experiments and trials which show that homeopathy is a lie, a large numbers of people still think that homeopathy is real and not a placebo effect. Their delusional mindset is something that will be hard to rectify; witness the still quite large numbers who believe in astrology and other woo-woo phenomenon.

What we can do, is continually point these people to the evidence and explain the processes that underlie the scientific process in the hopes that they can use critical thinking techniques to cut-out all the chaff that exists out there and concentrate on the pertinent details and reach their own conclusions. It will be slow and hard process. A good place to start is reading Ben Goldacre’s http://www.badscience.net/ site, and in particular, his latest article The end of homeopathy?

Copyright © 2007 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved

The Quackometer site has more follow-ups to the attempted suppression of truth. The sham shame of homeopathy…it would appear that the Society of Homeopaths is caught inside some sort of self-made reality distortion field. Ho hum. The straight skinny over at the Quackometer article. Enjoy!

Copyright © 2007 Kulvinder Singh Matharu – All Rights Reserved