Quack Watch: How to Spot a Snake Oil Salesman a Mile Away

In the fields of health, exercise, and nutrition, it can be a Sisyphean task to tell the difference between a legitimate, evidence-based practitioner and a huckster. Many individuals who promote pseudoscience do so with good intentions, but some are simply out to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, these "charlatans" often prey on a client's ignorance. They commonly use technical jargon to impress people and impede rational thought. Armed with this technobabble and the lack of absolute answers in health and medicine, it's easy for a skilled hack to fool even the smartest among us. This is especially true for someone who is sick and can't find a cure for what ails them. As a health condition worsens and treatment options dwindle, the allure of trying an "alternative" approach becomes strong, which, for obvious reasons, can be dangerous.

Spotting a Charlatan

Here are some red flags to help you spot a fraudulent practitioner:

• Guaranteed Cures: Be wary if a practitioner claims they can "cure" or "fix" your issue with 100% certainty. Health is complex, and no reputable professional can promise a miracle.

• Scientific-Sounding Language: They often use scientific-sounding language incorrectly, such as "energy transfer" or "quantum healing," to sound legitimate.

• Contradicts Science: The claims contradict known scientific principles or laws of nature.

• Secret or Ancient Knowledge: The treatment is based on a "secret" or "ancient" knowledge that has been hidden from the public.

• Conspiracy Theories: The practitioner ties their claims into a conspiracy theory where "the powerful" are holding back the treatment from the public.

• Non-Falsifiable Claims: Many of their claims cannot be proven or disproven, a key component of the scientific method.

Pseudoscience Keywords

Be on the lookout for the following keywords and phrases, which are often not evidence-based and suggest you may be dealing with "alternative woo."

Here is an abbreviated list of pseudoscience words and phrases that are not evidence-based and usually mean you are dealing with alternative 'woo':

#Detox

#Anti-Vax

#Anti-GMO

#Miracle cure

#Cleanse

#BioHacked

#Magnetic healing

#Instant results

#Secret trick

#PH-balancing food/water

#Chemicals in food

#Aura

#Chakras

#Energy flow

#Bulletproof

#Quantum healing

#Eat right for your blood type

#Adrenal fatigue

#Applied kinesiology

#Cupping therapy

#Faith healing

#Homeopathy

#Reflexology

#Acupuncture

#Urine therapy

#QuackWatch #pseudoscience

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