Important writers and websites

Simon Singh  Web Site
Simon singh is an author, journalist and TV producer, specialising in science and mathematics.
His recent [2008] book Trick or Treatment (with Professor Ernst) is an excellent review of alternative medicine; see below for full description and summary.
His site includes many discussions of maths, physics, education in science; it also includes science book reviews and even a section for jokes and cartoons.

NB: these three writers have all been sued or threatened with legal action as a result of their honest criticisms [on our behalf] of bad science, especially in relation to some nutritionists and alternative therapists.
    Simon Singh is currently being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association; Singh holds that chiropractic treatments for asthma, ear infections and other infant conditions are not evidence-based. Sense About Science has launched a campaign asking for reform of the English libel system so that it does not stifle scientific debate and journalism in general. Please visit the site, find out more, sign the statement of support.

Sense about Science Website.
Sense About Science is an independent charitable trust. They respond to the misrepresentation of science and scientific evidence on issues that matter to society, from scares about plastic bottles, fluoride and the MMR vaccine to controversies about genetic modification, stem cell research and radiation.
    Recent and current priorities include alternative medicine, MRI, detox, radiation, health tests, the status of evidence in public health advice, an educational resource on peer review and the public language of science.

TOP

This book includes outstandingly clear discussions of what makes Good Science in relation to testing the claims of nutrition industry, cosmetics, homeopathy, [etc].

1.Introduction to bad science
2. Brain Gym: A mixture of sensible advice with absolute rubbish pseudo-science. I could not believe it is officially recommended in schools.
3. Rubbish cosmetic ingredients
4. Homeopathy
5. The placebo effect
6. The nonsense du jour. 'Nutritionists': "members of a newly invented profession who must create a commercial space to justify their own existence, and foster your dependence on them. Their profession is based on a set of very simple mistakes in how we interpret scientific literature; they extrapolate widely from 'laboratory bench data' to make claims about humans; they extrapolate from 'observational data' to make 'intervention claims'; they 'cherry- pick'; and lastly they quote published scientific research evidence which seems, as far as one can tell, not to exist".
7. Dr Gillian McKeith PhD. "She is an empire, a prime-time TV celebrity, a best-selling author. she has her own range of pills etc. Scottish Conservative politicians want her to advise the government. The soil Association gave her a prize for educating the public. BUT to anyone who knows even the slightest bit about science she is a joke". NB: Her PhD was bought from a non-accredited college by correspondence course.
8. 'Pill solves complex social problem'. Will fish-oil pills make my child a genius [NO].? Analysis of badly flawed 'experiment' on efficacy of fish oils to improve the IQ of children in Durham. [The 'treated' children did relatively worse than others].
9. Professor Patrick Holford. Founder of the 'Institute for Optimum Nutrition'. He failed to complete his M.Phil in nutrition at University of Surrey. A good old fashioned quack, selling pills of no known value and odd bits of meaningless equipment. His book includes claims that vitamin C is more effective that AZT in treatment of AIDS. The 'Professor' title is not valid. this is an excellent analysis of how we can be hoodwinked by quotations of apparents cientific studies of nutrition.
10. The doctor will sue you now. Matthias Rath sued Ben goldacre and the Guardian for libel. He lost. An 'Alternative therapist', He claimed multivitamin pills are more effecive than drugs in treating HIV/AIDS. He was mainly responsible for Mbeki's policy of not treating South African AIDS patients with drugs [killing hundreds of thousands as a result].
11. Is mainstream medicine evil. Discussion of drug trials - good and bad.
12. How the media promote the public misunderstanding of science. He deals here with the 3 categories of Science stories: the wacky stories, the 'breakthrough' stories, and the 'scare' stories. "Each undermines and distorts science in its own idiosyncratic way".
13. Why clever people believe stupid things. Why it is not safe to let our intuitions and prejudices run unchecked and unexamined. The value of statistics.
14. Bad stats. How statistics are misused and misunderstood [especially by journalists]. This is an excellent [easy] introduction to statistics and the dangers of not understanding them. Includes how Dr Spock 'killed' thousands of babies.
15. Health Scares. Discussion of the MRSA (superbug) scandalous hoax, and the MMR scare; both created for good stories by journalists.
16. The Media's MMR Hoax. An extensive analysis of this.

Testing treatments: better research for better health care. [2006].
Imogen Evans, Hazel Thornton and Iain Chalmers.
This book can be downloaded free from the James Lind Library.

From Foreward by Nick Ross: "This book is good for our health. It shines light on the mysteries of how life and death decisions are made. It shows howthose judgements are often badly flawed and it sets a challenge for doctors across the globe to mend theirways. Yet it accomplishes this without unnecessary scares; and it warmly admires much of what modern medicine has achieved. Its ambitions are always to improve medical practice, not disparage it".

Read reviews on amazon [£6.29]. Trick or Treatment website.

1. How do you determine the truth. "Truth exists - only lies are invented' [Georges Braques]..
2. The truth about acupuncture. 'There must be something to accupuncture - you never see any sick porcupines' [Bob Goddard].
3. The truth about homeopathy. "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day, like a football, and it will be round and full at evening". [Oliver Wendell Holmes].
4. The truth about Chiropractic Therapy. "...at the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes - an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthlessly sceptical scrutinyy of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsences" [Carl Sagan].
5. The truth about herbal medicine. "The art of healing comes from nature and not from the physician. therefore, the physician must start from nature with an open mind". [Paracelsus].
6. Does the truth matter? "It makes good sense to evaluate complementary and alternative therapies. for one thing, since an estimated £1.6 billion is spent each year on them, then we want value for our money". [HRH The Prince of Wales].

The appendix: Rapid guide to alternative therapies [a single excellent page each].
The conclusions are based on the best reviews available [many from the Cochrane Collaboration]:
Alexander Technique;  Alternative Diagnostic Techniques; Alternative Diets;  Alternative Excercise Therapies;  Alternative Gadgets;  Anthrosophic Medicine;  Aromatherapy;  Ayurvedic Tradition;  Bach flower Remedies;  Cellular Therapy;  Chelation Therapy;  Colonic Irrigation;  Craniosacral Therapy (or Cranial Osteopathy);  Crystal therapy;  Cupping;  Detox;  Ear Candles;  Feldenkreis Method;  Feng Shui;  Food Supplements;  Hypnotherapy;  Leech therapy; Magnet Therapy; Massage Therapy; Meditation; Naturopathy; Neural Therapy; Orthomolecuar Therapy; Osteopathy;  Oxygen Therapy;  Reflexology;  Reiki; Relaxation Therapies;  Shiatsu;  Spiritual Healing;  Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I have summarised many of these in the section below on Alternative Therapies           

Final message [quoted verbatim from Trick or Treatment]: Too many alternative therapists remain uninterested in determining the safety and efficacy of their interventions. these practioners also fail to see the importance of rigorous clinical trials in establishing proper evidence for or against their treatments. and where evidence already esists that treatments are ineffective or unsafe, alternative therapists will carry on regardless with their hands firmly over their ears.
     Despite this disturbing situation, the market for alternative treatments is booming and the public is being misled over and over again, often by misguided therapists, sometimes by exploitive charlatans,
     We argue that it is now time for the tricks to stop, and for the real treatments to take priority. In the name of honesty, progress and good healthcare, we call for scientific standards, evaluation and regulation to be applied to all types of medicine, so that patients can be confident that they are receiving treatements that demonstrably generate more good than harm.
     If such standards are not applied to the alternative medicine sector, then homeopaths, accupuncturists, chiropractors, herbalists and other alternative therapists witll continue to prey on the most desperate and vulnerable in society, raiding their wallets, offering false hope, and endangering their health.

Summary of alternative therapies
These summaries are taken almost verbatim from the book Trick or Treatment by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst [see above]. Their conclusions are based on the best reviews available [many from the Cochrane Collaboration]. Their Website is being developed at present.
General Advice on alternative therapies: [quoted verbatim]: Too many alternative therapists remain uninterested in determining the safety and efficacy of their interventions. these practioners also fail to see the importance of rigorous clinical trials in establishing proper evidence for or against their treatments. and where evidence already esists that treatments are ineffective or unsafe, alternative therapists will carry on regardless with their hands firmly over their ears.
     Despite this disturbing situation, the market for alternative treatments is booming and the public is being misled over and over again, often by misguided therapists, sometimes by exploitive charlatans,
     We argue that it is now time for the tricks to stop, and for the real treatments to take priority. In the name of honesty, progress and good healthcare, we call for scientific standards, evaluation and regulation to be applied to all types of medicine, so that patients can be confident that they are receiving treatements that demonstrably generate more good than harm.
     If such standards are not applied to the alternative medicine sector, then homeopaths, accupuncturists, chiropractors, herbalists and other alternative therapists witll continue to prey on the most desperate and vulnerable in society, raiding their wallets, offering false hope, and endangering their health.

Accupuncture
Accupuncture is an ancient system based on the noton that health and wellbeing react to the flow of a life force (Ch'i) through pathways (meridians) in the human body. Accupuncturists place fine needles into the skin at critical points along the meridians to remove blockages and to encourage a balanced flow of the life force. they claim to be able to treat a wide range of diseases and symptoms.
    Conclusions: The traditional principles are deeply flawed, as there is no evidence at all to demonstrate the existence of Ch'i or meridians. The reviews show that it is no more effective than placebo for any condition except possibly for some types of pain and nausea [and here the evidence is only borderline].

Chiropractic Therapy
A form of treatment developed at the end of the nineteenth century, which involves manual adjustments of the spine. Although some chiropracters focus on treating back pain, many others also treat a whole range of common illnesses, such asthma. The underlying theory claims that manipulating the spine is medically beneficial because it can influence the rest of the body via the nervous system.
    There are 2 groups of chiropracters: 'Straight' chiropracters are fundamentalists who believe in 'subluxations' and 'innate intelligence' and the ability of spinal manipulation to treat all diseases. 'Mixers' concentrate on problems directly related to the spine.
    Conclusions: In summary, the scientific evidence suggests that it is only worth seeing a chiropracter if you have a back problem. Even then, Singh and Ernst offer this important advice if considering a visit to a chiropracter:
1. Do not use a 'straight chiropracter' (identified by their claims with respect to anything other than back problems).
2. If the problem is not resolved (or no further improvement is obvious) within 6 sessions then stop and consult your doctor for advice. Chiropracters have a reputation for lengthy and expensive treatments.
3. Do not allow a chiropracter to become your primary healthcare provider. Note that many carry the title of Doctor but this does not mean they have graduated from medical school; it generally means Doctor of Chiropractic.
4. Avoid chiropractors who rely on unorthodox techniques for diagnosing patients, such as applied kinesiology [these practioners are usually 'straight' chiropractors].
5. Check the reputation of your chiropractor. They have been shown to be markedly more likely to be involved in malpractice, fraud and sexual transgressions than are medical doctors.
6. Try conventional treatments before turning to a chiropracter for back pain. they are likely to be cheaper and just as effective.
Risks associated with Chiropractic therapy: these can be considerable and should be considered very seriously especially if a child is involved. There is an excellent extensive discussion of these risks [and of other alternative therapies] in Trick or Treatment.

Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is one of the oldest and most widespread form of treatment; it involves the use of plants and plant extracts in the treatment and prevention of a whole range of diseases. Based on local plants and traditions, it continues to play a major role in healthcare in Asia and Africa. In recent decades, herbal medicine, (also called phytotherapy) has become one of the fastest growing forms of treatment in the rest of the world.
    Conclusions: By contrast with accupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic manipulation, there is no doubt that some herbal medicine is effective. Much of modern pharmacology has evolved from the herbal tradition. Note that the word drug comes from the Swedish word druug meaning dried plant.
     What has to be considered here is the difference between scientific develpment of herbal extracts and what might be called 'alternative herbal medicine'. Alternative herbal therapists continue to believe that Mother Nature knows best and that the whole plant provides the ideal medicine, whereas scientists believe that nature is just a starting point and that the most potent medicines are derived from identifying and sometimes manipulating key components of a plant.
   Most alternative herbal medicines have not been tested for efficacy or safety to the same level as have conventional drugs. We have to ask: which herbal remedies work, and are they safe. There are valuable Tables summarising results of studies on 30 herbal remedies and aspects of their safety in Trick or Treatment [some are listed in the Table below].
    It should be noted that for many diseases and conditions there are no effective herbal remideies, including: cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, asthma, hangover and hepatitis.

QUACKWATCH (highly recommended)

Badscience.net Ben Goldacre's site, with text of his excellent Guardian column too.

Health Watch (UK)

Sense about Science an independent charitable trust to promote good science and evidence in public debates.

ebm-first.com:  A nice site about the follies of CAM run by an Edinburgh housewife who has suffered from it

The James Randi Educational Foundation

The Sceptical Preacher.  Sean Kehoe's site. It has had some good stuff recently

UK Skeptics' forum. A new UK forum

Little Atoms. Website of "Little Atoms" Radio show, broadcast fortnightly on Fridays from 16:30 to 17:30 on Resonance 104.4 FM . Little Atoms is a live discussion show, Produced and presented by Neil Denny and Richard Sanderson. Little Atoms explores the science of politics and the politics of science. Download their mp3s.

Skeptico  Critical thinking for an irrational world

The National Council Against Health Fraud (USA)

The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine (SRAM) (Editor Wallace Sampson)

ADbusters (see especially the spoof adverts gallery)

Science Jokes

The world of Richard Dawkins

The skeptic's dictionary

The skeptics' society

CrankDotNet: cranks, crackpots, kooks and loons on the net

The skeptics annotated bible

Francis Wheen's Top 10 Delusions

The Toadstool Millionaires: A Social History of Patent Medicines in America before Federal Regulation, James Harvey Young

The Medical Messiahs: A Social History of Health Quackery in Twentieth-Century America James Harvey Young

Boffin productions  Greetings cards for Scientists, Mathematicians, Free-thinkers and Sceptics

REASON Rationalists, Empiricists And Skeptics Of Nebraska

Some links to delusional sites that illustrate how the far the CAM lobby has penetrated the National Health Service

The NHS Alliance A goldmine of misinformation

NHS Trusts Association

The NHS CAM library

The Research Council for Complementary Medicine

The Prince�s Foundation for Integrated Health Some of the wackiest views on the web.