Miracle Cures - Quackery
If it LOOKS like a DUCK, and sounds like a DUCK, then it is probably QUACKERY
There are "enzymes" and herbal remedies to increase penis size, and more recently, a non-drug concoction that will make you taller (if you are under age 25). There are diet pills that give you energy, burn fat while you eat like a pig, and some designed only to lose belly fat. What's next? Fat Ass-away? Who is supposed to be regulating this crap? Because they are not technically drugs, these herbal supplements and homeopathic cure-alls are apparently free from regulation. And, who in their right minds are buying this stuff?
A good friend of mine, an Anthropology professor, invited me to display my lifelong collection of patent medicines and quackery medical devices at the local Skeptics organization. This is a volunteer group that attempts to identify and close down Quacks and quackery practices. At the turn of the last century, there were electric belts to help you lose weight, neon-like wands to grow head hair or shoot sparks up your butt, and thousands of snake-oil medicine that would cure just about everything. I displayed cures for cancer, torpid livers, flagging spirits, consitutional humors, female complaints (whatever those are!), and worms. 2005 is really no different.
In the cabinet behind my desk, I have several hundred of them proudly displayed. I haven't figured out how to post a picture on this site, but when I do...I will show you. I am particularly proud of my award-winning collection of antique laxatives. I won second prize in the Most Bizarre Collection Contest with our local newspaper. I lost first prize to Chinese Fighting Cricket Cages, but my opinion is that laxatives lack a certain public relations appeal. A year later, I again took second prize in national contest of bizarre collectables. Again, I lost to more appealing and tasteful collections. I was very disappointed about losing, since I still think I am the only Antique Laxative Collector in the World. After my disappointing defeat, a local news show did a story about my collection. When they ask me "How did I decide to collect laxatives?". I simply said, "Process of elimination...."
On my WebMD Ear Disorders message board, I get a frequent question about ear candles. Apparently, you can light one of these things in your ear, and the hurricane-like suction pulls disease, infection, and poisons out of your ear, as the candle wax fills your ear. After the wax hardens, you then pull out a disgusting glob of candle wax/ear wax, and perhaps a great deal of your brain, if you had one. Ear candles, according to www.quackwatch.com, were invented by the people of Atlantis, so there is a high level of credibility here. You can tell by my sarcastic tone that I do not think highly of objects being lit in body orifices. There should probably be butt-candles, too, making it easier for college guys to light farts?
Related Topics: Advertising: Miracle Cure, Safety of Herbal Supplements
There are "enzymes" and herbal remedies to increase penis size, and more recently, a non-drug concoction that will make you taller (if you are under age 25). There are diet pills that give you energy, burn fat while you eat like a pig, and some designed only to lose belly fat. What's next? Fat Ass-away? Who is supposed to be regulating this crap? Because they are not technically drugs, these herbal supplements and homeopathic cure-alls are apparently free from regulation. And, who in their right minds are buying this stuff?
A good friend of mine, an Anthropology professor, invited me to display my lifelong collection of patent medicines and quackery medical devices at the local Skeptics organization. This is a volunteer group that attempts to identify and close down Quacks and quackery practices. At the turn of the last century, there were electric belts to help you lose weight, neon-like wands to grow head hair or shoot sparks up your butt, and thousands of snake-oil medicine that would cure just about everything. I displayed cures for cancer, torpid livers, flagging spirits, consitutional humors, female complaints (whatever those are!), and worms. 2005 is really no different.
In the cabinet behind my desk, I have several hundred of them proudly displayed. I haven't figured out how to post a picture on this site, but when I do...I will show you. I am particularly proud of my award-winning collection of antique laxatives. I won second prize in the Most Bizarre Collection Contest with our local newspaper. I lost first prize to Chinese Fighting Cricket Cages, but my opinion is that laxatives lack a certain public relations appeal. A year later, I again took second prize in national contest of bizarre collectables. Again, I lost to more appealing and tasteful collections. I was very disappointed about losing, since I still think I am the only Antique Laxative Collector in the World. After my disappointing defeat, a local news show did a story about my collection. When they ask me "How did I decide to collect laxatives?". I simply said, "Process of elimination...."
On my WebMD Ear Disorders message board, I get a frequent question about ear candles. Apparently, you can light one of these things in your ear, and the hurricane-like suction pulls disease, infection, and poisons out of your ear, as the candle wax fills your ear. After the wax hardens, you then pull out a disgusting glob of candle wax/ear wax, and perhaps a great deal of your brain, if you had one. Ear candles, according to www.quackwatch.com, were invented by the people of Atlantis, so there is a high level of credibility here. You can tell by my sarcastic tone that I do not think highly of objects being lit in body orifices. There should probably be butt-candles, too, making it easier for college guys to light farts?
Related Topics: Advertising: Miracle Cure, Safety of Herbal Supplements
2 Comments:
I have blood in my stool; it's been there for about three days now. I got some hemmorhoids (or however you spell it) from the two recent pregnancies that I just went through and there are times when I go number two and it feels like I am being ripped apart. I am wondering if the bleeding is just from the hems or if there is something really wrong. The blood is bright red in color and is also on the tissue after I wipe. Can you get back to me? Ms. B
The same thing happend to me I literally filled the toilet water with Bright red blood. The doctor told me that it was from my hems. He told me to use a hem cream and a laxitive such as peri-colace tablets. BM's are much easier this way and after a few days the bleeding subsided. ;-)
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