by In their intriguing book Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial (Corgi, 2009),[1] Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst have done the health of the nation a massive service by critically scrutinising the history of the Prince of Wales' very own pet obsession... quackery. Here Singh and Ernst take on and thoroughly dispel popular misconceptions as to the utility of four alternative therapies: acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic therapy and herbal medicine.
Drawing upon the arguments presented in their book, this article endeavours to relate the interesting tale of how, contrary to scientific evidence, acupuncture has come to be seen as a cost-effective remedy for all manner of serious health problems.
While many so-called health and lifestyle magazines have done much to undermine public understanding of effective medical interventions, and of evidence-based science more generally, the role of the mainstream media in facilitating such problems should never be underestimated. For example, when President Nixon reopened diplomatic talks with China in 1972, the international media took it as a cue to fixate upon alternative medicine and traditional treatments.
http://www.newleftproject.org/index.php ... _revisited
I've read the book mentioned; I highly reccommend it.
BlackBart will probably be along shortly to let me know what it was.
