Is there a conspiracy to defame alternative medicine?

The "Conspiracy Theory" is the last great refuge for the scientifically illiterate alties!

When their treatments are shown to be fake, their outrageous claims without validity, their monumentally ludicrous theories without substance, then they all retreat into the grubby paranoia of the unjustifiably persecuted:

"Oh woe are we! For shadowy forces suppress our truths (in all corners of the globe, on every level, constantly, without any breach of secrecy) and seek to suppress our great knowledge!"

When in fact all we have are a group of educationally-challenged crackpots who bring this paranoia onto themselves through a combination of taking art instead of science at school and being unquestionably gullible.

I was in clinical practice for over forty years. I kept up with developments all during that time. Still, I am no medical genius. I do realize, however, that there's no such thing as "alternative" medicine. There are only two kinds - medicine that works, and medicine that does not work. Proving that a substance or a technique is curative is a damn complex and demanding process - for many good reasons. When a proponent refuses the input of doubters, that's evidence enough for me that he or she is either lying or seriously misinformed.

Absolutely not. Even studies showing positive effects of CAM get published in high profile conventional magazines. I even remember one acupuncture study published in Journal of the American Medical Association (Doesn't get much higher than that), where the editors accepted the authors conclusion that sham acupuncture and real acupuncture were equally effective as treatment of patients suffering from migraine:

"Acupuncture was no more effective than sham acupuncture....although both interventions........ indicates that point location and other aspects considered relevant for acupuncture did not make a difference".

There is no way that acceptance of changing a placebo control group into a treatment (intervention) group in a high profile conventional medicine magazine can be part of a defamatory conspiracy towards alternative medicine.

Edit to add.

@ Fight the system...

You really don't have to be afraid of me. I am just a pathologist, and because of that I am causing loss of income to pharmaceutical companies on a daily basis (by issuing reports on evidenced basis saying that their drugs will not work - except for producing ugly side effects). Now please explain how a system that accepts positive results from altie studies, and even accepts changing of a placebo group into an intervention group is part of a defamatory conspiracy.

Not really a conspiracy. It's out in the open. Hello I am Angelhil, Alternative medicine does not have any value or medicinal effect.

I AM hoping that an end will be put to government funded alternative medicine. It's in the open

@ fight the system. "angel has no brain". . . No I'm . Um isn't.

There are individuals who demand a higher standard of evidence and plausibility for what should be considered medicine. If certain aspects of alt med are "defamed" along the way, it's merely a consequence and not the goal of these higher standards.

Thankyou for posting sweetie. I was very tempted to open a new account and answer that question....especially after I saw Katie's answer, but I thought it would be stooping to their level. Although I have to admit, I have opened a new account in the past to answer one of SoulQuacks' questions. But in my source, I openly admitted it was me.

The alties block us because they are afraid of rational debate. It's the type of behaviour expected from science denialists. They just want answers from people who agree with them. Such people tend to be dishonest and often have a hidden agenda. It's often a cure sign of a crank.

In answer to the question: There is no conspiracy to defame Alt.Med. When the alties are unable to justify their claims with evidence, the only option they are left with is fallacious conspiracy arguments. It's desperate and pathetic and does not count in the scientific arena.

Edit: SkepDoc and I joined QuackZone..er...curezone awhile back, basically to correct and challenge some of the misinformation there. We were removed within 24 hours..lol.

Oooo, does anyone know what happened to Gary? I clicked on his profile earlier to send him a message and it looks like he's been deleted. I hope he comes back...

Yes actually, the same way there is a "conspiracy" to expose every other type of crook and charlatan out there.

The conspiracy is called reality.

AngryDoc has mental health problems and needs to remember to take his medication.

The rest of you skeptics need to understand that you've been blocked cause of your arrogance.

DUCK: what did I tell you?

Who is JLI? New skeppie?

Tink tries to be cool, but isnt

Angel has no brain.

Rhianna is just Rhianna. What can you say?

Yes!!!

And to keep Big foot and Nessie hidden,

And the space ships at Area 51

And the second gunman on the grassy knoll

etc, etc....

wake up people!

BIG PHARMA IS BIG BROTHER!!!!