Eleven pseudoterapies you have heard of: what they are and why you should not trust them

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The pseudoterapias can appear in the most unexpected places: hair salons, beauty centers, alternative clinics, private hospitals, medical practices ... mix a medical terminology with an almost esoteric attitude and make a fortune by health - conscious citizens and welfare but Little informed about scientific procedures and methods.

In the middle of this salad of pseudo-therapies, we analyze some of the most habitual, what they consist of exactly and most important: why they are useless and some, also, very dangerous .

1. Homeopathy

The homeopathy is probably the best known and usual. It is easy to find it in pharmacies along with scientifically proven drugs and even doctors who openly recommend it.

Homeopathy-medicines-pseudoscience

Homeopathy is based on the principle that "the like cures the like", and for that it uses active substances diluted hundreds of times in distilled water or alcohol. Dilutions can be so high that not one molecule of the original active substance remains in the final result, something that is not an impediment to its effects thanks to the " water memory ".

The principles and therapeutic effects of homeopathy have not been scientifically demonstrated in two hundred years, despite dozens of studies have tried. The most common finding is that homeopathy has no greater effect than a placebo , and that although its consumption appears harmless, it is actually dangerous because it takes patients away from effective treatments.

2. Reiki and therapeutic touch

Perhaps reiki is the best known of these two pseudotherapies, but both are based on similar ideas: the practitioner claims to be able to feel a supposed vital energy of the patient and manipulates it with their hands , either touching the body parts or just locating them Above, to make him heal. For both options, the scientific evidence is also zero.

Woman-reiki-pseudo-therapy

To begin with, there is no evidence that the mechanism on which they are based , that life-force that can be manipulated to heal us actually exists. But although it existed and science simply would not have found how to verify it yet, different experiments have shown that the practitioners of these pseudoterapies are able to know if they are close to another human body if their eyes are blindfolded, which seems basic at the time To heal another person using their vital energy.

Other studies have shown that therapies of this type have no effect on the human body , and that investigations that seemed to indicate that they did suffer from serious flaws in the design of the experiments or in the logic of the conclusions.

3. Bach flowers

In the 19th century, the English physician Edward Bach concluded, after studying the principles of homeopathy, that by using dilutions of floral principles it was possible to treat states of mind in humans which, if prolonged for too long, could reach Affect your health.

Flowers-bach-homeopathy

Thus, it is called Bach Flowers to preparations of brandy, mineral water and flower extracts . 48 flowers in total have supposed curative properties, among them agrimony, to hide the worry behind a mask of joy; The wild apple tree, for the fear of being dirty; Holly, for resentment, jealousy or envy; Or pine, for the excessive feeling of guilt. They can be combined according to the needs of the patient but never mixing more than seven flowers.

To explain the absence of scientific evidence behind Bach flowers have to start by clarifying that even Bach himself bothered to explain the operating mechanism of course his theories , so check it or deny it is complicated. Since it was based on principles of homeopathy, as a dilution without active ingredient molecules can remain effective, we can use the same arguments to ensure that this pseudoterapia not have any scientific sense.

To conclude, a systematic review of scientific papers on Bach Flowers reveals that these "treatments", like homeopathy, have no more effectiveness than a placebo .

4. Apitherapy

The apiterapia in general is to use for therapeutic products derived from bees as honey, royal jelly or propolis, but is mostly used for therapies using the bee venom (Apitoxins) , sometimes through directly Insect pecks.

Apitherapy-bite-bee

The main component of bee venom is melitin , a compound with anti-inflammatory properties, and hence the interest of using it as a therapeutic remedy. The problem is that melittin is mixed with other toxic compounds, and in this type of therapies are applied without any control, assuming at best a nuisance and at worst, a danger to the life of the patient if it develops a Severe allergic reaction .

It is common for this pseudotherapy to be associated with the treatment of multiple sclerosis . For this reason, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of America has funded several studies to see if the application of bee venom does indeed have any positive effect on those affected by this disease. So far, neither the mouse tests nor the first clinical trials give positive results .

This could change in the future, and find a way to apply a treatment based on bee venom in a controlled and methodical way, but at the moment does not exist and can be dangerous to undergo this pseudotherapy.

5. Biomagnetism

Biomagnetism, devised in 1988, proposes that all diseases are caused by a pH imbalance , and that it is possible to correct that imbalance, and therefore cure the diseases it causes. To do this, if you place one magnet at the point of unbalance, and another of the opposite pole at a point of opposite polarity.

The truth is that the idea that a pH imbalance causes our

Different organs of the body have different levels of acidity, and these vary from one person to another and this is not a health problem

Pathologies is present in other pseudotherapies, but its validity has not been demonstrated. Different organs of the body have different levels of acidity, and these vary from one person to another and, within normal ranges, this is not a health problem. On the other hand, there is no evidence that magnetic fields cause harmful or curative effects on people.

In fact, some studies have tried to find out what is real in the alleged beneficial effects of products that rely on electromagnetic fields, such as bracelets or pendants, to provide some welfare, and the conclusions obtained have been that these effects are not superior to Those of a placebo .

6. Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon hydrotherapy is based on the idea that food rots when it reaches our intestines, adheres to its walls, releases toxic substances that the body can not eliminate and that makes us sick. To avoid it, apply intestinal washes introducing a hose through the rectum and introduces water inside, up to 70 liters per session, sometimes mixed with herbs and other compounds.

The idea on which it is based does not fit with what we know about the functioning of our organs: food does not rot in the intestines, and these are perfectly capable of eliminating all the waste

It ensures that this can be treated from diseases directly related to the intestine such as Chron's disease, constipation or hemorrhoids to others that have nothing to do with the digestive system, such as acne, allergies or depression.

Again, the idea on which this pseudotherapy is based does not fit at all with what we know about the functioning of our organs : food does not rot in the intestines, and these are perfectly capable in any healthy person to remove all wastes Of our food.

In this case, hydrotherapy not only has not proven to have positive effects, but can also be a source of very serious intestinal infections , puts at risk colonies of intestinal bacteria that we need to carry out digestion and if not performed Carefully inserting the hose can cause anal tears and even intestinal perforations .

7. Osteopathy

Osteopathy was invented in the 19th century by an American doctor who was a mechanic who conceived the human body as a machine with all its parts perfectly fitted and connected by the connective tissue . According to his reasoning, it was possible to influence and cure any diseased organ or system simply by manipulating this outer layer, bones and muscles.

Man-massage-osteopathy

The effectiveness of osteopathy has been tested in patients with damage to the musculoskeletal apparatus, but reviews of those studies have concluded that there is insufficient evidence of quality to consider a positive effect. It has also been suggested that it may serve to treat other pathologies, such as cardiovascular or dermatological diseases , again without evidence to support these claims.

8. Ozone therapy

Ozone therapy is based on injecting ozone gas into wounds or rectally to treat ailments that include cancer, AIDS, paralysis or neurodegenerative diseases.

Several studies indicate that there is no therapeutic validity in the use of ozone to treat diseases and the FDA warns that it can be toxic and harmful

It is difficult to locate the origin and basis of this pseudotherapy. Gas with high concentrations of ozone has certain antibacterial properties, but also reaches high toxicity quickly, and therefore its use is absolutely inadvisable.

Several studies indicate that there is no therapeutic validity in the use of ozone to treat diseases, the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) warns that it can be toxic and harmful and the overabundance of ozone is related to serious damage to the lungs , in addition to other Complications and even cases of deaths . https://www.dissertationplanet.co.uk/

9. Reflexology

Reflexology-map-hands

Reflexology is based on the idea that there are channels of energy that connect each organ and system of our body with certain points of the plant of our feet, the palm of our hands, our nose or our ears. Therefore, by applying pressure and manipulating these points it would be possible to cure or improve those organs. This can treat ailments that include migraines, back pain or menstrual pain among others.

There is no scientific evidence that reflexology has any effect on health (beyond the relaxation that may cause us to massage our feet or hands), nor the existence of these connections between the body organs and the areas Which treats reflexology.

10. Chiropractic

Chiropractic or chiropractic is based on the idea that the nervous system affects the health of all nerves and that it is possible to influence this by manipulating the spine .

Woman-chiropractic-massage

There is no evidence that chiropractic serves to cure any ailment , and instead, it is a very dangerous pseudo-therapy , since incorrect manipulation of the spine can cause serious injury . It is related to cardiovascular accidents, neck pains, vision problems, nausea, dizziness ... Symptoms that usually appear a few days after the application of these techniques.

11. Orthomolecular Medicine

Medicine, nutrition or orthomolecular therapy is based on the idea that consuming large amounts of biomolecules (especially vitamins but also proteins or amioacids) can strengthen the patient's health and treat diseases such as cancer, bronchitis, allergy, meningitis or Neurodegenerative diseases among others.

After consuming the recommended daily amount, vitamin C has not been shown to have any curative effect

The vitamin C is the center of attention, and this pseudoterapia recommend consuming it in large quantities. However, once the recommended daily amount is consumed, vitamin C has not been shown to have any curative effect, and overeating can cause diarrhea or kidney damage . The claim that it serves to treat cancer has been ruled out by several studies .