... and other ‘implausible’ remedies
Homeopathy
HOMEOPATHY is a ‘treatment’ that uses highly diluted substances which practitioners claim can cause the body to heal itself.
It is based on the idea that a substance that causes certain symptoms can also help to remove those symptoms. But a report by the Commons science and technology committee said that homeopathic remedies perform no better than dummy treatments and that the principles on which they are based are ‘scientifically implausible’.
Chiropractic therapy
Dr Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, has warned this therapy is ‘the most directly dangerous treatment’. It involves manipulating bones thought to be out of alignment and it is feared the movements could rupture arteries in patients’ necks.
Acupuncture
Mild to moderate side effects occur in one in ten patients, Dr Ernst said. He warned that the needles can give patients infections such as hepatitis, and dangers include the lungs collapsing, having been pierced.
Colloidal silver
Drinking colloidal silver, a liquid containing silver particles, is claimed to be effective against everything from the common cold to cancer. However, drinking it can cause argyria – a condition which turns the skin blue. Paul Karason, from the US, was nicknamed ‘Papa Smurf’ after his skin turned blue after drinking colloidal silver.
Slapping therapy
This treatment involves slapping different parts of the body until the skin starts to look bruised. This is claimed to stimulate energy flow or ‘chi’ in the body and eliminate toxins. Dr Ernst said: ‘There is not a single clinical trial testing whether slapping therapy is effective.’