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55-626: According to archived website, the NCAHF evolved from three separate organizations. The Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, Inc. (LVCAHF, now called Quackwatch ) was founded in 1969 by Stephen Barrett and H. William Gross, D.D.S. in Allentown, Pennsylvania . The Southern California Council Against Health Fraud (SCCAHF) had its origin in 1976 at Loma Linda University with academic colleagues William T. Jarvis and Gordon Rick as co-founders. Thomas H. Jukes of University of California, Berkeley founded

110-610: A 2007 feasibility study on a method for identifying web pages that make unproven claims, the authors wrote: Our gold standard relied on selected unproven cancer treatments identified by experts at http://www.quackwatch.org   ... By using unproven treatments identified by an oversight organization, we capitalized on an existing high quality review. Writing in the trade-journal The Consultant Pharmacist in 1999, pharmacist Bao-Anh Nguyen-Khoa characterized Quackwatch as "relevant for both consumers and professionals" and containing articles that would be of interest to pharmacists, but that

165-401: A balanced view of alternative cancer treatments . Jane Cuzzell viewed Quackwatch similarly, arguing that it was entertaining but that the "resource value of this site depends on what the visitor is seeking" and had concerns about the appearance of bias in the selection of the material. However, while Lillian Brazin also found it to be biased, she described Quackwatch as credible, and noted both

220-425: A contributing source for some of the content in their "Report 12." The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) criticised a 2002 PBS broadcast which included an episode about chiropractic in which the NCAHF was involved. ACA president Daryl D. Wills responded to PBS officials stating (in part): "I find it ironic that a program titled 'Scientific American Frontiers' would completely ignore the scientific foundation of

275-685: A journalist with The Village Voice , in 1999 described Barrett as "a full-time journalist and book author", "never a medical researcher", and one who "depends heavily on negative research ... in which alternative therapies do not work" but "says that most case studies that show positive results of alternative therapies are unreliable". She quoted Barrett as saying that "a lot of things don't need to be tested [because] they simply don't make any sense". Writing in The Lancet , Mona Okasha wrote that Quackwatch provides an "entertaining read", but described it as only appropriate for limited use as it fails to provide

330-560: A long series of articles on various alternative medicine methods, it uses Quackwatch as a reference and includes criticisms of the methods. The Health On the Net Foundation , which confers the HONcode "Code of Conduct" certification to reliable sources of health information in cyberspace, recommends Quackwatch. It also advises Internet users to alert Quackwatch when they encounter "possibly or blatantly fraudulent" healthcare websites. In

385-566: A peer review process would improve the site's legitimacy. Nguyen-Khoa said the presence of so many articles written by Barrett gave an impression of lack of balance but that the site was taking steps to correct this by recruiting expert contributors. He also noted that Barrett often inserts his strong opinions directly into sections of an article already well supported by the literature. Although entertaining, this direct commentary may be viewed by some as less than professional medical writing and may be better reserved for its own section. Donna Ladd ,

440-657: A psychiatrist, seeks to expose unproven medical treatments and possible unsafe practices through his homegrown but well-organized site. Mostly attacking alternative medicines, homeopathy and chiropractors, the tone here can be rather harsh. However, the lists of sources of health advice to avoid, including books, specific doctors and organizations, are great for the uninformed. Barrett received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for fighting nutrition quackery in 1984. BEST: Frequently updated, but also archives of relevant articles that date back at least four years. WORST: Lists some specific doctors and organizations without explaining

495-467: A resurgence in the 1960s. The organization also advocated that insurance companies should not be required to cover acupuncture treatment and that licensure of lay acupuncturists should be phased out. There has been some controversy regarding the use of amalgam fillings by dentists, because the amalgam contains mercury. Some forms of mercury are toxic to humans, but the NCAHF cites the CDC in stating that there

550-425: A similar assessment, with one 1990 paper finding there was no scientific basis for any of the practitioners' claims the paper examined. The evidence base for CST is sparse and lacks a demonstrated biologically plausible mechanism. In the absence of rigorous, well-designed randomized controlled trials , it is a pseudoscience , and its practice quackery . Tests show that CST practitioners cannot in fact identify

605-417: A species of medical hucksterism, failing to condemn shortcomings within conventional biomedicine, and for promoting an exclusionary model of medical scientism and health that serves hegemonic interests and does not fully address patient needs. Waltraud Ernst , professor of the history of medicine at Oxford Brookes University , commenting on Vankevitch's observations in 2002, agrees that attempts to police

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660-482: Is caused by energy or fluid blockages which can be released by physical manipulation. They believe that the bones of the skull move in a rhythmic pattern which they can detect and correct. The therapist lightly palpates the patient's body, and focuses intently on the communicated movements. A practitioner's feeling of being in tune with a patient is described as entrainment . Comparing CST to cranial osteopathy, Upledger wrote: "Dr. Sutherland's discovery regarding

715-504: Is considered a valuable information source for many agencies nationwide. They are well networked and, as demonstrated by their past history, are able to influence the efforts of various agencies and insurance carriers. The NCAHF's ability to publish its opinions and hold these types of conferences does make them a substantial "player" in the area of health fraud." In 1998, the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs used NCAHF board member John Renner as

770-503: Is developed with the assistance from volunteers and expert advisors. Many of its articles cite peer-reviewed research and are footnoted with several links to references. A review in Running & FitNews stated the site "also provides links to hundreds of trusted health sites." Naturowatch is a subsidiary site of Quackwatch which aims to provide information about naturopathy that is "difficult or impossible to find elsewhere". The site

825-440: Is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere". Since 1996 it has operated the alternative medicine watchdog website quackwatch.org , which advises the public on unproven or ineffective alternative medical remedies. The site contains articles and other information criticizing many forms of alternative medicine. Quackwatch cites peer-reviewed journal articles and has received several awards. The site has been developed with

880-535: Is fraudulent and did not attempt to prove or disprove that chiropractic 'works,' but it does state that chiropractic has no basis in science. This conclusion is entirely justified by both current research and generally accepted views of human anatomy." Quackwatch Quackwatch is a United States–based website, self-described as a "network of people" founded by Stephen Barrett , which aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and to focus on " quackery -related information that

935-600: Is no evidence that "the health of the vast majority of people with amalgam is compromised" or that "removing amalgam fillings has a beneficial effect on health". The NCAHF criticizes those who they believe exploit unfounded public fears for financial gain. NCAHF asserts that breath, urine and blood testing for mercury are inaccurate. Other tests for mercury exposure described by the NCAHF as invalid can include skin testing, stool testing, hair analysis and electrodermal testing. The NCAHF contended that chiropractic can be dangerous and lead to injury or permanent disability. However,

990-586: Is operated by Barrett and Kimball C. Atwood IV , an anesthesiologist by profession, who has become a vocal critic of alternative medicine. The site is available in French and formerly in German and Portuguese, as well as via several mirrors . Sources that mention Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch as a useful source for consumer information include website reviews, government agencies, and various journals including The Lancet . Quackwatch has been mentioned in

1045-435: Is possible or true only in terms of what science has managed to 'prove' to date". The organization has often been challenged by supporters and practitioners of the various forms of alternative medicine that are criticized on the website. Cranial osteopathy Craniosacral therapy ( CST ) or cranial osteopathy is a form of alternative medicine that uses gentle touch to feel non-existent rhythmic movements of

1100-474: Is scientifically unproven as a modality of treatment. In 1990, it said that research during the past twenty years had failed to demonstrate that acupuncture was effective against any disease. Perceived effects of acupuncture are, argued the NCAHF, probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion and other psychological mechanisms. The NCAHF pointed out that acupuncture was banned in China in 1929 but underwent

1155-688: Is the only site I know of right now looking at issues of fraud and health on the Internet." Sources that mention quackwatch.org as a resource for consumer information include the United States Department of Agriculture , the U.S. National Institutes of Health , the Skeptic's Dictionary , the Diet Channel, and articles published in The Lancet , the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education ,

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1210-672: The Journal of Marketing Education , the Medical Journal of Australia , and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association . In addition, several nutrition associations link to Quackwatch. An article in PC World listed it as one of three websites for finding the truth about Internet rumors. A Washington Post review of alternative medicine websites noted that "skeptics may find Quackwatch offers better truth-squadding than

1265-1101: The Food and Drug Administration or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ." The books Low-Carb Dieting for Dummies (2003), The Arthritis Helpbook (2006), The Rough Guide to the Internet (2007), Navigating the Medical Maze: A Practical Guide (2008), Chronic Pain For Dummies (2008), and The 2009 Internet Directory (2008) mention or use content from Quackwatch. Quackwatch and Barrett have also been cited by journalists in reports on therapeutic touch , Vitamin O , Almon Glenn Braswell 's baldness treatments, Robert Barefoot 's coral calcium claims, William C. Rader 's " stem cell " therapy, noni juice , shark cartilage and saturated fat . The American Cancer Society lists Quackwatch as one of ten reputable sources of information about alternative and complementary therapies in their book Cancer Medicine . In

1320-524: The Office for Science and Society at McGill University due to the poor methodological quality of the individual studies that made up the analysis. Edzard Ernst wrote that in 2005 in the United Kingdom, a foundation of then- Prince Charles issued a booklet listing CST as one of several popular alternative therapies, but admitted that the therapy was unregulated and lacked either a defined training program or

1375-556: The gills of a fish, indicating articular mobility for a respiratory mechanism." CST was invented by John Upledger, as an offshoot of cranial osteopathy. From 1975 to 1983, Upledger and neurophysiologist and histologist Ernest W. Retzlaff worked at Michigan State University as clinical researchers and professors. They assembled a research team to investigate the purported pulse and further study Sutherland's theory of cranial bone movement. Later, independent reviews of these studies concluded that they presented no good evidence for

1430-449: The "'old-fashioned', 'traditional', 'folksy' and heterodox by contrasting it with the 'modern', 'scientific' and orthodox." Ernst also interprets Barrett's attempt to "reject and label as 'quackery' each and every approach that is not part of science-based medicine" as one which minimizes the patient's role in the healing process and is inimical to medical pluralism. A 2003 website review by Forbes magazine stated: Dr. Stephen Barrett,

1485-429: The "medical cyber-market with a view to preventing fraudulent and potentially harmful practices may well be justified". She commends "Barrett's concern for unsubstantiated promotion and hype," and says that "Barrett's concern for fraudulent and potentially dangerous medical practices is important," but she sees Barrett's use of "an antiquarian term such as 'quack'" as part of a "dichotomising discourse that aims to discredit

1540-502: The American Cancer Society recommends those with cancer or chronic conditions should consult their doctor before starting any therapy consisting of manual manipulation. According to the American Cancer Society, although CST may relieve the symptoms of stress or tension, "available scientific evidence does not support claims that craniosacral therapy helps in treating cancer or any other disease". Cranial osteopathy has received

1595-787: The NCAHF considered bad are those chiropractors who believe the spinal adjustment will cure or alleviate a variety of diseases, such as infection , arthritis , cancer , diabetes , nutritional deficiencies or excesses, appendicitis , blood disorders, or kidney disease . These practitioners may use unproven, disproven, or questionable methods, devices, and products such as adjusting machines, applied kinesiology , chelation therapy , colonic irrigation , computerized nutrition deficiency tests, cranial osteopathy , cytotoxic food allergy testing, DMSO , Gerovital , glandular therapy, hair analysis , herbal crystallization analyses, homeopathy , internal managements, iridology , laser beam acupuncture, laetrile , magnetic therapy , and so forth. The NCAHF

1650-686: The NCAHF did not categorically oppose the practice. It differentiated between chiropractors who promote what it considered good and bad chiropractic practices. The former promote methods of diagnosis and treatment which have a scientific basis. For example, NCAHF claims there is no scientific support for vertebral subluxation . Their view is that chiropractors should restrict their scope of practice to neuromusculoskeletal problems such as muscle spasms, strains, sprains, fatigue, imbalance of strength and flexibility, stretched or irritated nerve tissue, and so forth. Chiropractors should refer cases involving pathology to qualified medical practitioners. In contrast, what

1705-585: The area of health fraud". NCAHF considers diploma mills harmful to the students and to the public. The National Council Against Health Fraud was mentioned as a useful source for information by the United States Department of Agriculture , the 2003 edition of "Cancer Medicine", published by the American Cancer Society , and many other organizations and libraries. The journal Dynamic Chiropractic , while highly critical of NCAHFs views on chiropractic, has written: "The National Council Against Health Fraud

National Council Against Health Fraud - Misplaced Pages Continue

1760-420: The assistance of a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisors. It has received positive recognition and recommendations from mainstream organizations and sources, although at times it has also received criticism for perceived bias in its coverage. It has been recognized in the media, which cite quackwatch.org as a practical source for online consumer information . The success of Quackwatch has generated

1815-565: The bones of the skull can be harmful, particularly for children or infants. The basic assumptions of CST are not true, and practitioners produce conflicting and mutually exclusive diagnoses of the same patients. Practitioners of CST claim it is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, sometimes claiming it is a cancer cure, or a cure-all . Practitioners particularly advocate the use of CST on children. The American Cancer Society cautions that CST should never be used on children under age two. Pediatricians have expressed concern at

1870-507: The chiropractic profession. The chiropractic portion of the June 4 episode titled 'A Different Way to Heal?' irresponsibly characterized chiropractic care -- a legitimate, research-based form of health care -- as a fraudulent hoax." and that "[t]he producers of your program could not have expected objectivity" from the NCAHF. The producer of the program replied in detail and explicitly denied these allegations: "The segment did not claim that chiropractic

1925-519: The cranial bones to achieve a therapeutic result. However, there is no evidence that the bones of the human skull can be moved by such manipulations. The fundamental concepts of cranial osteopathy and CST are inconsistent with the human skull, brain, and spine's known anatomy and physiology. Edzard Ernst has written "to anyone understanding a bit of physiology, anatomy etc. [CST] looks like pure nonsense." In common with many other varieties of alternative medicine , CST practitioners believe all illness

1980-553: The creation of additional affiliated websites; as of 2019 there were 21 of them. Barrett founded the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud (LVCAHF) in 1969, and it was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1970. In 1996, the corporation began the website quackwatch.org, and the organization itself was renamed Quackwatch, Inc. in 1997. The Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation

2035-736: The credentials of the contributors and the thoroughness of the content. In a 2002 book, Ned Vankevitch, associate professor of communications at Trinity Western University , places Barrett in a historical tradition of anti-quackery, embracing such figures as Morris Fishbein and Abraham Flexner , which has been part of American medical culture since the early-twentieth century. Although acknowledging that Quackwatch's "exposé of dangerous and fraudulent health products represents an important social and ethical response to deception and exploitation", Vankevitch criticizes Barrett for attempting to limit "medical diversity", employing "denigrating terminology", categorizing all complementary and alternative medicine as

2090-455: The effectiveness of craniosacral therapy or the existence of the proposed cranial bone movement. Practitioners of both cranial osteopathy and CST assert that there are small, rhythmic motions of the cranial bones attributed to cerebrospinal fluid pressure or arterial pressure . The premise of CST is that palpation of the cranium can be used to detect this rhythmic movement of the cranial bones and selective pressures may be used to manipulate

2145-427: The evidence base surrounding craniosacral therapy and its efficacy was sparse and composed of studies with heterogeneous design. The authors of this review stated that currently available evidence was insufficient to draw conclusions. A 2019 systematic review found limited evidence that CST may bring some relief for up to six months for people with chronic pain . However, the conclusions of this study were disputed by

2200-470: The harm CST can cause to children and infants. There is no evidence that CST is of use for people with autism and its use is potentially harmful. As of 2018 at least two deaths had been reported resulting from CST spinal manipulation. In a small study, participants with head injuries suffered worsening symptoms as a result of CST. Additionally, if used as the sole treatment for serious health conditions, choosing CST can have serious adverse consequences;

2255-545: The health claims, marketing, safety, efficacy and labeling of many herbal supplements . Herbal preparations are regulated as foods, rather than as drugs, in the United States. The NCAHF advocates regulations for a special OTC category called "Traditional Herbal Remedies" (THRs) with an adverse reaction surveillance program, product batches marked for identification and tracking, package label warnings about proposed dangers of self-treatment, oversight requirements from outside of

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2310-479: The herbal industry, and strong penalties for unapproved changes in herbal product formulations. The NCAHF asserted that many unqualified practitioners are able to mislead the public by using diploma mills or "degree mills" to get "specious degrees". Diploma mills are not accredited, and frequently engage in " pseudoscience and food faddism ". NCAHF also noted that "some of the 'faculty' or 'academic' advisors at several of these schools have criminal convictions in

2365-711: The media, books and various journals, as well as receiving several awards and honors. The Journal of the American Medical Association mentioned Quackwatch as one of nine "select sites that provide reliable health information and resources" in 1998. It was also listed as one of three medical sites in U.S. News & World Report 's "Best of the Web" in 1999. Thomas R. Eng, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, stated in 1999 that while "the government doesn't endorse Web sites   ...[Quackwatch]

2420-418: The oversight of a professional body. Ernst wrote that this makes the therapists practising CST "less regulated than publicans ." Cranial osteopathy, a forerunner of CST, was devised in the 1930s by William Garner Sutherland . While looking at a disarticulated skull , Sutherland was struck by the idea that the cranial sutures of the temporal bones where they meet the parietal bones were "beveled, like

2475-548: The purported craniosacral pulse, and different practitioners will get different results for the same patient. The idea of a craniosacral rhythm cannot be scientifically supported. In October 2012, Edzard Ernst conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials of craniosacral therapy. He concluded that "the notion that CST is associated with more than non-specific effects is not based on evidence from rigorous randomised clinical trials." Commenting specifically on this conclusion, Ernst wrote on his blog that he had chosen

2530-412: The quality of health information on the internet, assisting or generating consumer-protection lawsuits, and attacking misleading advertising on the internet. Quackwatch has no salaried employees, and the total cost of operating all Quackwatch's sites is approximately $ 7,000 per year. It is funded mainly by small individual donations, commissions from sales on other sites to which they refer, profits from

2585-495: The reason for their selection. A 2004 review paper by Katja Schmidt and Edzard Ernst in the Annals of Oncology identified Quackwatch as an outstanding complementary medicine information source for cancer patients. The Good Web Guide said in 2006 that Quackwatch "is without doubt an important and useful information resource and injects a healthy dose of scepticism into reviewing popular health information", but "tends to define what

2640-536: The sale of publications, and self-funding by Barrett. The stated income is also derived from the usage of sponsored links . The Quackwatch website contains essays and white papers , written by Barrett and other writers, intended for the non-specialist consumer. The articles discuss health-related products, treatments, enterprises, and providers that Quackwatch deems to be misleading, fraudulent, or ineffective. Also included are links to article sources and both internal and external resources for further study. The site

2695-503: The skull's bones and supposedly adjust the immovable joints of the skull to achieve a therapeutic result. CST is a pseudoscience and its practice has been characterized as quackery . It is based on fundamental misconceptions about the anatomy and physiology of the human skull and is promoted as a cure-all for a variety of health conditions. Medical research has found no significant evidence that either CST or cranial osteopathy confers any health benefit, and attempts to manipulate

2750-568: The third organization, an unnamed group in northern California. For a time between 1998 and 2000, the NCAHF operated under the name National Council for Reliable Health Information (NCRHI). The organization became inactive in 2002, and its legal entity was formally dissolved in 2011. According to NCAHF's mission statement, its activities and purposes included: NCAHF's positions on consumer health issues were based on what they considered ethical and scientific principles that underlie consumer protection law. Required were: NCAHF stated that its funding

2805-491: The wording as "a polite and scientific way of saying that CST is bogus." Ernst also remarked that the quality of five of the six trials he had reviewed was "deplorably poor," a sentiment that echoed an August 2012 review that noted the "moderate methodological quality of the included studies." Ernst criticized a 2011 systematic review performed by Jakel and von Hauenschild for including observational studies and including studies with healthy volunteers. This review concluded that

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2860-798: The year. Quackwatch is overseen by Barrett, its owner, with input from advisors and help from volunteers, including a number of medical professionals. In 2003, 150 scientific and technical advisors: 67 medical advisors, 12 dental advisors, 13 mental health advisors, 16 nutrition and food science advisors, three podiatry advisors, eight veterinary advisors, and 33 other "scientific and technical advisors" were listed by Quackwatch. Many more have since volunteered, but advisor names are no longer listed. Quackwatch describes its mission as follows: ...   investigating questionable claims, answering inquiries about products and services, advising quackery victims, distributing reliable publications, debunking pseudoscientific claims, reporting illegal marketing, improving

2915-540: Was dissolved after Barrett moved to North Carolina in 2008, but the network's activities continue. Quackwatch co-founded, and was closely affiliated with, the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). The NCAHF was formally dissolved in 2011. In February 2020, Quackwatch became part of the Center for Inquiry . CFI planned to maintain its various websites and to receive Barrett's library later in

2970-431: Was opposed to dietary recommendations and practices not supported by scientific evidence, including behavior-related claims. Unverified assessment methods such as iridology , applied kinesiology , and routine hair analysis for assessment of nutritional status are criticized. NCAHF and some of its members have long opposed implementation of beliefs that they characterize as unfounded or unscientific. NCAHF also questioned

3025-406: Was primarily derived from membership dues, newsletter subscriptions, and consumer information services. Membership was open to everyone, with members and consultants located all over the world. NCAHF's officers and board members served without compensation. NCAHF stated they united consumers with health professionals, educators, researchers, attorneys, and others. The NCAHF asserted that acupuncture

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