Categories
Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

A brief history of chiropractic

Chiropractic has origins in mysticism and vitalistic thinking. Given its popularity and seeming mainstream acceptance, it’s easy to forget that these days. Fortunately, Daryl Cunningham reminds us of the history of chiropractic, including its philosophical underpinnings and potential complications:

Categories
Antivaccine nonsense Blogging Complementary and alternative medicine Computers and social media Medicine Personal

The consequences of blogging under one’s own name

Sadly, a crank has silenced another skeptic. Many of you may know EpiRen, which is the Twitter and blog handle (and sometimes commenting handle here) of René Najera. René is an epidemiologist employed by the state public health department of health of an East Coast state and has been a force for reality- and science-based […]

Categories
Humor Personal

David Mitchell on Gifts

I realize that this has nothing to do with science, skepticism, or medicine. However, it’s Sunday, and I found it amusing. Nothing like a little fluff before diving back into the usual topics next week. It’s also cool that David Mitchell has his own YouTube series of videos. Given that Christmas is a mere four […]

Categories
Cancer Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Quackademic medicine invades Cancer

I don’t know if I should thank Peter Lipson or condemn him. What am I talking about? Yesterday, Peter sent me a brain-meltingly bad study in so-called “complementary and alternative medicine” that shows me just how bad a study can be and be accepted into what I used to consider a reasonably good journal. I […]

Categories
Antivaccine nonsense Bioethics Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Politics Quackery

The Yale Journal of Medicine & Law blows it big time on alternative medicine

It’s always frightening when lawyers delve into the realm of medicine. It’s even worse when pre-law students and political science majors do the same. Such was the thought running through my mind when I came across the most recent issue of the Yale Journal of Medicine & Law. The result is what I would most […]