But new JAMA “study” says we are medical conspiracy kooks who are unscientific and foolish.
Are you concerned about government limitations on your access to natural treatments and dietary supplements? Are you alarmed by the safety and integrity of our food system? Do you worry about fluoride in your food supply? According to an article published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a publication of the American Medical Association, you are a head case.
As reported in the March 17 Reuters Health, the so-called study—an online survey containing six questions posed to 1,351 respondents—looked at the “medical conspiracies” frequently “believed” by consumers. The questions ranged from the claim that a US spy agency infected a large number of African Americans with HIV to the notion that the government “prevents citizens from accessing alternative medicines.” Included were theories that the government knows cell phones cause cancer but does nothing about it, that GMOs are being used to shrink the world’s population, that routine vaccinations cause autism, and that water fluoridation is a way for companies to dump dangerous chemicals into the environment. Some 49% of the survey participants agreed that there was substance to at least one of the conspiracy theories.
Note how the more paranoid fantasies are given equal footing with claims that have abundant and credible evidence—such as the government suppressing alternative medicine. We have reported extensively on the FDA’s attacks on integrative practitioners and their innovative treatments.
At the heart of the JAMA study, as well as the Reuters Health article, is a sneering condescension toward any who question any part of the mainstream medical position. For example, according to the article, there’s a strong correlation between believing in conspiracy theories and taking dietary supplements: “While 13 percent of people who did not believe in any conspiracies took herbal supplements, 35 percent of those who believed in three or more theories took supplements. Overall, the researchers say people who believed in conspiracies were more likely to use alternative medicine and to avoid traditional medicine.”
In other words, it’s just our paranoia that’s keeping us from traditional medicine—and not the 210,000 to 440,000 patients who die every year from medical mistakes. “Conspiracy theorists” are also assumed to be profoundly unscientific: “Science in general—medicine in particular—is complicated and cognitively challenging because you have to carry around a lot of uncertainty,” according to the JAMA study’s author.
The article concludes by encouraging doctors to set their patients straight about “conspiracies,” since skeptical patients are less likely to submit unquestioningly to prescription regimens. Apparently ANH-USA and its grassroots activists have been going about this whole “health” thing wrong—we should just sit back, relax, and let all those smart guys in Washington tell us what to believe, and what to swallow—literally.
Is this what the American Medical Association believes? No one can be sure, but based on the evidence we have seen over the years, we think it is entirely representative of the organization’s attitude.
In this context, it is worth remembering the old saying about how ideas change. At first ideas that challenge the conventional wisdom and entrenched interests are mocked. Then, as they begin to gain ground, they are studiously ignored (hush—don’t let people hear about this!). In the third stage, the establishment feels really threatened and fights tooth and nail to destroy the new ideas. When that fails and the new ideas finally triumph, the opponents simply shrug their shoulders and say: Oh, we knew that all along.
The day is coming when JAMA will say about integrative medicine: Oh, we were in favor of that all along!
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In any European countries and in Japan — modern, progressive nations — there are a number of established medical protocols which successfully treat cancers — but which are absolutely prohibited in this country. And the JAMA is well aware of these absolutely legitimate alternative — and successful — protocols. So who is JAMA trying to con?, their own constituency of primarily allopathic primitives?
I am truly amused on how they tried to slant supplement users with conspiracies. I mean somebody had to be real creative to come up with that one. There’s no sense convincing a doctor without an open mind. They have been subject to rigorous reprogramming. They go “all in” to the medicine based beliefs and can be ostracized if they step out of the box by their peers. Supplements do work but generally not as immediate as a drug. It will be interesting to see how supplements evolve and how they will work better and solve more issues. Drugs, on the other hand still won’t cure anything.
Considering the AMA spend many decades saying the same about traditional Chinese Medicine none of this should be surprise. I am sure they were horrified when insurance companies started to pay for acupuncture.
The one thing to remember about the AMA is that it is a lobby group, whose main focus, over the decades, is to protect doctors, no matter what. IMHO it always comes back to money, and squashing any competition.
The suppression of reporting and tracking medical mistakes by doctors and hospitals is a great example. We only have guesses that 450K and above patients are killed by errors each year. The the person I have to me most concerned with killing me is not a criminal, a terrorist, drunk driver but my doctor.
We pay the most for the least in health care in this country compared to other “modern” nations.
What a mess.
en
I have sworn off prescription meds and remained on supplements since 2011. I have not died. My condition is no worse and I feel better since I have no side effects to add. I feel that the cures are in the so-called hallucinatory herbs. I know in my research that cannabis can cure cancers, and has positive effects on other cures for common human condition. They are scrutinized and demeaned without study. They ban rather than research non-medical support usage that produce the positive results. The why can only be political and Economic Royalty blamed. They make money by denying cure and this must change.
I guess I’m a real nut, because I wouldn’t go to an M.D. on a bet. I treat myself if needed, with natural methods, and I’m always healthy and have been for the last 30 years. It’s a good thing for the medicos that not everyone is like me; they would be out of a job, along with big pharma. My my, wouldn’t that be awful!
I recall that survey. It listed those six “conspiracy theories” about medical issues. I am a voracious reader who has studied the issues many years, and I could see JAMA was tarring each of them with a broad brush as matters only a nutcase would entertain. The survey’s instigators completely ignored the proven facts behind each issue, and suggested those believing them were nutcases.
I never trust the AMA or the JAMA. Never.
Uh….where are the comments?
,,,and why is the time wrong?
Please refine FDA policy to diminish the influence of large pharmaceutical companies with large lobbies and consider opening access to alternative healing methods.
Well it may be a conspiracy and it may not be a conspiracy, but one thing is for sure, it sure is corruption in our government as a result of corporate take over of our govt. If the AMA doesn’t believe that, then they’re either lying or they simply do not read. For example the following article from the Wall St Journal dated; Jan 2009 entitled; “FDA Scientists Ask Obama To Restructure Drug Agency”; “WASHINGTON — A group of scientists at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday sent a letter to President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team pleading with him to restructure the agency, saying managers have ordered, intimidated and coerced scientists to manipulate data in violation of the law. …’ … (… and by the way, Obama never did a thing about it, and never will, because just as he himself stated when responding to some of his concerned big money doners in referring to his political campaign promises, such as the one that all GMO containing foods would be labeled; “It’s just political rhetoric.” In other words, whatever he say’s means absolutely nothing. He’s simply lying);
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123142562104564381?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB123142562104564381.html
I know medical scientist that have stated to me our medical system intentionally hides cures I have met people that worked at pharmaceutical companies that say the same I can’t give names due to safety concerns American medicine is criminal I have been nearly murdered by it please stay away from our medical system they don’t care at all.
Just look at cannabis. They know all the good it does yet they lie straight to your face about it. Between that and all the medicine recalls by the FDA for killing people, as well as off label use gone wrong… how are we the people, supposed to believe anything these BigPharma shills have to say?
Well then they’re just as kooky. The entire point of this is to FORCE us to use nothing but conventional medicine, of their design.
If they’re so against this, WHY has WHO given Nestlé the go ahead to start manufacturing TRADITIONAL CHINESE HERBAL SUOPLEMENTZ, which they expect western MDs to prescribe.
Google it. They want it in place in ten years.
They intend to give healthy people, who don’t need medications, things like chi tonifiers and blood boosters, all of which are never meant to be given indefinitely.
MDs can barely keep medications correct. Hundreds will die from this, and the herbs will be blamed, when it’s their own ineptitude and greed.
No one has ever died from PROPERLY dispensed Chinese herbs. Only greedy idiots trying to make a buck off them.
It’s why ephedra is illegal in the USA. A company put it in some diet pill, very inappropriately, and people died from side affects. Herbalists do NOT make this mistake. They know better than to put an herb that affects the heart into something an obese person in ill health might take.
Drugs can kill THOUSANDS, when dispensed by doctors, and it’s OK, but an herb improperly used, kills a dozen, and the fda bans it from even licensed practitioners.
This is a disaster in the making. Lots of people are going to die.
First from herb mistakes, second from being denied their main way of keeping healthy.
I use no meds. Just herbs an supplements.
Conspiracy theory kooks?… I only wish that this were true. Then we could rest assured that the fluoride and other contaminates in our water and toothpaste aren’t damaging our children’s health.
We could all relax knowing that the air is safe to breath and our food is wholesome, GMO and chemical free.I’d love it! It would be wonderful. Until then I would rather be a healthy kook than sick, but blissfully ignorant of the ever present danger we are faced with .every day.
Our health is under attack and the freedom to treat our own illness as we see fit is also under attack.
Some day mainstream will look back on these dark times in amazement..
The 2/3s of the gov’t. who aren’t admitting that government is suppressing access to natural cures probably are still under the impression that the government cares about their health. The rest of us know better, read more or have been hurt because government Is suppressing access to natural cures.
” US spy agency infected a large number of African Americans with HIV ”
I’ve been helping to raise funds for AIDS research since the days when it was called GRID and this is the first that I have ever heard of such a claim.
Is it valid? Who knows. Thanks to history and the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, it is entirely possible that it may be true.
If the governmental entities charged with protecting the citizens of this country cannot do the job they have appointed or elected to do; we should post haste remove them from the positions they hold. You are with us or against us. We need a grass roots to take back our country from the politicians.
Opinions that aren’t based on conclusions reached by examining an expansive knowledge of the topic in question are really no better than used toilet paper. Most opinions fall into this toiletry category. During my own appointments or when taking family members to the doctor, I always qualify the doctors with questions that I’ve thoroughly researched and already know the answers to. Drug efficacy data, diet related questions that impact a particular disease, etc. These are questions and answers regarding published medical studies and prevailing medical knowledge that a doctor in their specialty should be very fluent in. I’m not deliberately trying to trip them up, just make sure they actually have the level of knowledge that I deem qualifies them to give an accurate health diagnosis. And almost always, they are unable to accurately answer questions related to their own field of specialty. I do the same thing with other professionals like lawyers, tradesmen, accountants, etc. and incompetence is rampant amongst them all. Don’t ever subjugate your responsibility for your own health (or finances) to somebody else, just because they are SUPPOSED to be qualified. With my personal observations of doctor incompetence and ignorance over the past 30 years, I’m forced to question any conclusions they reach, in regards to any topic, once I’ve found them to be lacking in their knowledge of their very own profession. I certainly don’t give any creedance to their opinions on corporate corruption within medicine and health related fields.
I was concerned about government limitations and access to natural treatments and dietary supplements for years. I now see where all this is going. The cost of most supplements are just out of reach for the most of us. I took a variety of things for years and could actually tell the difference in my health. In the last few years the things i took for years have no quality of product, or don’t work at all. The supplements i would like to use are completely out of my reach money wise. And the retail supplements are worthless.
So if you are worried about government limitations or access, you are just wasting time, it will happen. Big MONEY rules.
1/3rd believe in the medical/industrial/political conspiracy (follow the money), 1/3rd are too preoccupied to care, and 1/3rd are part of the conspiracy – I’d say that’s a crude summarization.
In the early 1900’s, the medical profession, itself, was the original victim of Big Pharma many years ago when the Rockefeller and Carnegie families paid two men by the name of Henry Pritchett and Abraham Flexner to create a devious scheme that would result in the ‘disenfranchisement’ of any medical education institution that didn’t teach pharmaceutical medicine. Guess who owned the pharmaceutical companies? To see more investigate articles by Dr. John L. Reizer.
In both opposite positions there are pros and cons. You simply have to decide on your own, as some doctors do. Both, alternative and conventional medicine are profit making organizations to a point. Both blame each other using conspiracy theory methods . You must educate yourself in order to make a wise decision.
I am inclined to alternative medicine based on my own experience. It also depends on your level of education on the medical and pharmacological fields, in order to balance both fields and see which responds more faithfully to the truth; and this is a serious challenge to your health.
Philosophically speaking, on my own opinion and observations, conventional medicine tends to swim against the flow of nature’s river. Proof of this are the numerous side effects resulting from the synthetic medicines manufactured by the pharmaceutical industries advertised in TV. Whereas alternative medicine subtracts its medicines from nature; thus flowing with its current.
Bull s*****!!!
The day Alliopathic Medicine recognizes integrative Medicine will be a cause for celebration!!
But even your own language here falls into the same trap your rightly accuse them of doing. Consider this phrase:
“Note how the more paranoid fantasies”
By using the word “fantasies” you are dismissing some deep reservations some of us have about the integrity, intentions, and capabilities of this segment of the empire. Did you know that the very phrase “conspiracy theory” (used to sabotage any rational discussion of evidence) was invented by the CIA in order to discredit those who doubted the Warren commission report of the assassination of JFK? That act, and its decades long coverup have now been proven to be the responsibility of high-level coordination by multiple governmental agencies, along with some even less savory characters. If you doubt this, you have not read the astonishingly detailed documentation in “JFK and the Unspeakable,” by James Douglass. More to be said, but I will keep it short.
I must be a proud headache then. The medical-media complex knows little about alternative health and cares none about reporting the real reason for people using alternative medicine. They are not qualified to dictate my healthcare.
Oops, I meant headcase not headache. Kindle.
Modern medicine is the alternative. Natural cures are the traditional medicine and have been for over 5,000 years. 67% of the world still uses natural means to heal and maintain health.
Manmade medicines are dangerous to the human body. Not one of them is made to heal anything, but only to mask symptoms and cause the need for 3 more prescriptions.
Look at the history regarding how J.D. Rockefeller and our government set out to shut down naturopathic schools. He invested in big pharm.
Hi, I do not usually talk about my particular medical info. However, I will say that I read medical journals and medical papers on medical conditions. I have learned that it is possible to use both this and homemedics to treat particular ills. Many doctors will say what they will, but they have watched me and my ills and saw improvements enough to make research and then regulate the medicine and it’s price has then gone through the ceiling. Even though those same doctors called my own treatments “horse medicine” or medicine used by vets for one hundred years. Also, I learned about differences in child, mature, middle aged, and elderly differences in nutrient absorption. Then I found the best supplements for my age group. Works for me!
Hi, I do not usually talk about my particular medical info. However, I will say that I read medical journals and medical papers on medical conditions. I have learned that it is possible to use both this and homemedics to treat particular ills. When I was in University I studied nursing and took courses in therapeudic dietectics. There are many things that are known; but, physicians and nurses do not care to find out about, nor want to hear that they are not smarter than you are. Unless, you show them copies of medical journals or medical papers. Insurance companies do not want to hear about them, either; nor do thy want to pay for “trial meds” or “unresearched treatments.” Therefore, you have to be able to pay for your own…it can be costly.
Anybody who reads this…who is also a conservative or libertarian and is affiliated with a Tea Party Group….please reach out to your Tea Party group and ask them to take a stand on Health Freedom.
Tell them Health Freedom is not just opposing the tyranny of Obamacare but must be for something positive…and from there you can repeat the positions taken by ANH. eg. allow people to choose therapies they desire, the only thing government can insist upon is disclosure of risk…this stems from
(my position) I am the owner of my adult body and no D government should be able to dictate what I can or must do with it at least in the privacy of my home. The ridiculous doctrine that empowers FDA censorship must also be repealed….only drug approved by the FDA can cure or treat disease.
I have been an herbalist for 53 years and created 14,000 natural remedies, having worked in the health food industry all these years and created a not for profit Unincorporated Association with 6000 active members and thousands of followers of free natural health education with no cost continuous consultations and discounts for the poor. I never received any funding and went broke 4 times. Being called from above to continue as an ordained Christian Minister and Certified Bishop , I have persevered. I was threatened by the FDA in in 2011, that if I did not sing an admission of guilt for manufacturing drugs, that they would fine me large amounts of money. I sued them, and was unable to raise the funds necessary to continue an expensive court battle and they won by default. Then the FDA sued me and won because I could not compete. Then the FDA filed “Contempt of Court” charges asking for heavy fines, for praying with members and answering natural health questions.
I proved to court on September 24th 2013, that I never charged anyone to pray with them and talk about natural remedies. And, I no longer had any connection with the manufacture of any of the products and received no benefit from there sale. The judge ruled that I have complied. And that the FDA should go after Potato Chip manufactures and leave natural remedies alone.
I have been an herbalist for 53 years and created 14,000 natural remedies, having worked in the health food industry all these years and created a not for profit Unincorporated Association with 6000 active members and thousands of followers of free natural health education with no cost continuous consultations and discounts for the poor. I never received any funding and went broke 4 times. Being called from above to continue as an ordained Christian Minister and Certified Bishop , I have persevered. I was threatened by the FDA in in 2011, with there Criminal Extortion Racket, that if I did not sign an admission of guilt for manufacturing drugs, that they would fine me large amounts of money.. I sued them, and was unable to raise the funds necessary to continue an expensive court battle and they won by default. I lost my home of 20 years, and sold the manufacturing facility to betterhealthherbs.com. Then the FDA sued me and won because I could not financially compete. Then the FDA filed “Contempt of Court” charges asking for heavy fines, for my praying with members and answering natural health questions.
I proved to court on September 24th 2013, that I never charged anyone to pray with them and talk about natural remedies. And, I no longer had any connection with the manufacture of any of the products and received no benefit from there sale. The judge ruled that I have complied. And that “the FDA should go after Potato Chip manufactures and leave natural remedies alone”.
Six months later the FDA sends in a team of agents for ten days, and in style interrogated the new owner and staff, disrupting the operation of their not for profit manufacturing resulting in interrupted service to members and lost revenue. The new owner complied with every request within two weeks and sent the FDA a detailed report. Now, they wait to here back from the FDA. The FDA made one impossible requirement so that this small not for profit would not be able to comply. When an herb is purchased from a reputable distributor it arrives with a Certificate of Analysis (COA), now the FDA is requiring redundant testing upon arrival and again when it is mixed with other COA herbs, at $60 per test, which would sky rocket the price of the finished product to it’s members and destroy this not for profit educational and discount resource for the poor.
May G-d bless you and save you from the tyrants that persecute you and all freedom loving people
I just want to puke. This is just awful. I feel like I’m reading some story from 1930s Germany. But no. this is the USA. What kind of country that claims it’s some bastion of freedom constantly behaves this way? What kind of society doesn’t have a right to health? These is Gestapo tactics.
Kooks? Really? Just look at diabetes care. A recent European journal article suggests that all-cause mortality rises over four-fold in adult onset diabetics on insulin, and increased mortality is seen in patients on all classes of diabetes medicine. Diet could safely solve most of these patient’s conditions. And someone who argues for that is a kook?
Speaking of Europeans, the EU won’t allow GMOs in. They have turned Washington State apples away due to toxicity concerns. Are they ALL kooks?
From the article, “At the heart of the JAMA study, as well as the Reuters Health article, is a sneering condescension toward any who question any part of the mainstream medical position.” My belief is that mainstream media cooperates to feed the U.S. all kinds of misinformation to further the ideals of the elite and corporate interests. Anyone who doesn’t subscribe to “mainstream” anything is automatically an outcast. I’ve gone through 7 pages of Google search results to find these articles that show the CAM and Integrative sector to be alive and growing:
“The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine is supported by membership dues and grants from philanthropic partners including the The Bravewell Collaborative. Our membership currently includes 57 highly esteemed academic medical centers and affiliate institutions.” http://www.imconsortium.org/members/home.html
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded 2012 grants for CAM research to some top complementary medicine schools such as the following:
1. University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.)
2. University of California (Irvine and San Francisco, Calif.)
3. Bastyr University (Kenmore, Wash. and San Diego, Calif.)
4. University of Illinois (Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, Ill.)
“The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, which encourages the spread of CAM education, was founded in 2000 after an initiative by eight academic medical centers; it now boasts 46 medical school members.”
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2011/04/12/medical-schools-embrace-alternative-medicine — 20 schools, 102,419 students
Of course the government works to obstruct natural remedies. The FDA is in cahoots with the drug industries and receives money from them in return for the favor of being allowed to fast track new medicines, and there is a continual revolving door where corporate executives and FDA officials swap back and forth between the two. . Since natural supplements compete with pharmaceutical drugs to some extent, and given the drug industry’s close relationship with the FDA, they’re going to do everything they can, legal or illegal, to block anything that competes with or takes any money away from the drug industry.
Greed is an insatiable monster. It never has enough, and the pharmaceutical industry is eaten up with it.
Just saw The Cleveland Clinic on The Katie Show talk about how they’re integrating “alternative” (herbs, acupuncture etc.) treatments for their patients which according to this study makes them kooks.
Ridiculous studies like the ones quoted in this article expose the truth about mainstream medicine for all to see, I say give them lots of rope…
I’m not a big fan of expensive, combination supplements when the ingredients/vitamins can be purchased individually at a much lower cost but I vehemently defend our right to decide what goes into our own bodies; shame on those who seek to control freedom of choice!
I don’t recall who said this, probably Dr.Mercola or Dr. Hyman: Can you think of any disease that’s caused by a lack of a prescription medicine? Then what makes you think a prescription will cure anything? (paraphrased)
If we didn’t see conventional medicine doctors continuing to perpetuate information that was wrong in the first place and prescribing drugs in combinations that are dangerous, or worse, I’d have more faith in their judgement. And if we didn’t see drug companies over and over developing and heavily marketing inadequately tested drugs that cause more problems then they solve and putting on “seminars” (golfing trips, cruises, etc.) to get doctors to push their drugs, I might think they had some honor. The drug company profits are through the roof and they spend enough of it lobbying, they get what they want.
In my particular experience, I had a cardiologist put me on a drug mixture I later found out could have killed me had I continued to take them as he insisted. But after about a month I noticed enough bad side effects I quit taking them and did a little research, ending up after a few hours knowing more about those drugs than the doctor did. Oh, and he didn’t like the idea of taking fish oil (“after all, it is fat”) and had me on a diuretic to lower my BP when it was 120/80. When I asked him if anything he had me on had a diuretic side effect, he said no. A nurse I met straightened me out on that one.
My experience the last few years with conventional US doctors leads me to have little faith in their practice.