Skeptics Stack Exchange
Skeptics Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [alternative-medicine]

Use this tag for claims regarding cures and health practices which fall outside the boundaries of scientifically validated medicine.

Any healing practice, method, compound or procedure which falls outside the bounds of scientifically validated medicine either because it has not demonstrated significant, safe, repeatable results consistently under proper observing conditions, or has not yet had the opportunity to undergo such testing. Can also relate to the study, evaluation, and interpretation of data collected on such processes. Related term: Complementary Medicine.

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Does echinacea reduce the length and severity of symptoms for the common cold?

Echinacea bottles at my local food supplement store claim that taking the pills will reduce the length and severity of symptoms experienced when infected with the common cold. Do these claims have any basis? Is there any peer-reviewed research…
blueberryfields
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Did Richard Nixon commission a study on the effects of THC and then have the results classified?

This was recently shared to my mother's Facebook page. She is currently battling an aggressive cancer that was brought on by Chemotherapy that she had to fight stage 4 breast cancer over 10 years ago. The US Government has known since 1974 that…
Chad
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Did Steve Jobs fall prey to alternative medicine?

Dr. Ramzi Amri makes a stern case on the other Q/A site. Let me cut to the chase: Mr. Jobs allegedly chose to undergo all sorts of alternative treatment options before opting for conventional medicine. This was, of course, a freedom he had all the…
Sklivvz
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Does or could Theta Healing work?

There have been various claims that a process called 'Theta Healing' can achieve profound improvements in people's health. Various books and papers mention it, not to mention the fact that it's had some news coverage and conferences. Though it…
Jez
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Does Bioptron VIP (Visible Incoherent Polarized) Light Therapy heal wounds and help with skin problems?

Does Zepter's Bioptron Light Therapy fall into science-based medicine (rigorously tested, proven benefits, sound principles...) or is it "alternative medicine" pseudo-science/fraud? BIOPTRON can help: Promote wound healing Relief pain and decrease…
korina
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Does Indian Water Therapy have healing effects?

Indian Water Therapy is an ancient practice which involves drinking 1-1.5 litres of water every day as soon as you wake up, then not eating anything until 40 minutes has passed, at which point you can carry on your day as normal. There is an amazing…
Nobody
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Can 'resonant frequencies' kill cancer cells?

According to some guy called Anthony Holland, you can kill cancer cells with resonant frequencies: "Cancer Research", Novobiotronics; "Shattering cancer with resonant frequencies: Anthony Holland at TEDxSkidmoreCollege", in which Holland presents…
Sebastiaan van den Broek
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What is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and does it work?

Is there any evidence for emotional freedom technique? How do you get qualified? Is it used in more traditional therapy?
anansias
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Does auto-suggestion work?

There are several popular self-improvement books, some of which are: Think and grow rich - Napoleon Hill The Power of Your Subconscious Mind - Joseph Murphy The secret - Rhonda Byrne which suggest Autosuggestion as a method of succeeding in life,…
Alex Mor
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Does Hijama (cupping) alleviate pain and other ailments?

Hijama is, as I understand it, an Islamic and traditional Chinese technique somewhat similar to bloodletting wherein the patient receives multiple minor perforations to his back after which suction cups suck and expel the blood. This is supposed to…
IAE
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Are there secret pressure points in our body?

Do we have "secret" "bundles of nerves" — pressure points — which, when struck with a particular Karate move, kill us? Wikipedia is skeptic but see this History Channel documentary (only the first minute is really necessary for the claim):…
Sklivvz
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Does gas training simulate altitude training?

I think the benefits of altitude training are well known, but a popular trend (especially in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)) is simulating altitude training with a gas mask or other device to restrict oxygen. I always thought the altitude training was…
Dogmafrog
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Is there such a thing as an aura?

Many psychics claim to be able to see auras. Many healing methods like reiki are based on them. Psychics claim that if you look at someone with soft eyes, you can see a hazy field around them, white at first, which with practice becomes colourful…
aaa
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Does German New Medicine work?

German New Medicine is a medical treatment developed by Ryke Geerd Hamer. Hamer claims that the cause for every cancer is a "biological-conflict shock". The German New Medicine is a set of findings and principles that solidly bases the nature of…
Bart Calixto
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Is vinegar a sunburn remedy?

While searching for a remedy for sunburn pain last year, I ran across multiple references to vinegar as an effective method in treating sunburn pain. Is there any research that validates or invalidates this claim? If founded, how might vinegar act…
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