Unscrupulous? You Bet!

"When we enable alternative practitioners by 'integrating' them into our publicly funded medical schools, universities and health care systems, we send the message to the public that their practices are legitimate."

"When the government sanctions the marketing of homeopathy and other useless natural health products, and when respected news outlets write glowing and uncritical articles about scientifically ludicrous practices -- like Reiki and astrology -- it becomes more and more difficult for the public to differentiate between nonsense and evidence-based treatments."

Dr.Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair in health law and policy, University of Alberta

Unproven health claims from alternative medicine purveyors make it even harder for people to sort fact from fake news about COVID-19—exactly what is not needed during a public health crisis, argues health law and policy expert Timothy Caulfield. (Photo: Getty Images)

"[The Calgary naturopath had made] false and misleading statements. [There] are no proven methods for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 -- claims otherwise made by any health professionals are invalid and should be reported immediately to applicable regulators."

Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors

As the world agonizes over the lightning-spread of a seemingly-unstoppable pathogen, fearful people look for hope everywhere, to be able to escape the infection that has been challenging medical science to find an antidote for. In the absence of a medically-improved, scientifically validated vaccine, despite the desperate race by the global scientific community, people, deathly afraid of infection, listen to charlatans and the ignorant posing as authoritative voices.

Some Orthodox traditions are being questioned amid tightening public-health restrictions.

From respected religious leaders who tell their followers that piety and trust in their faith will deliver them from harm, and others that urge followers to kiss or lick sacred relics and a supreme being will assure their immunity from the novel coronavirus -- to the mendacious urging the faithful to drink cow urine to ward off COVID-19, terrified people are led astray. Still others remain defiant, refusing to exercise the good judgement urged upon them, to create a safe distance between themselves and others, to refrain from eating from communal bowls. And nor will drinking bleach or snorting cocaine shield anyone.

In Iran, a strictly Islamist-enforced country where alcohol is prohibited, reports have emerged that 44 Iranians died and hundreds hospitalized from drinking bootleg alcohol after a rumour that it would help cure or prevent the coronavirus onset. Among many in the alternative medicine community there are those seizing an opportunity, recommending supplements to prevent "and hopefully help treat the virus". Aromatherapists, without missing a beat recommend "antiviral essential oils" that will "help us to avoid being infected".

The fight to prevent coronavirus infection can be enhanced by acupuncture which "fortifies the lungs and the kidneys" through balancing "certain organic systems"; ironic, an Chinese traditional therapy to counter a Chinese-sourced malady. But then, chiropractors too have the solution to the threatening coronavirus since spinal adjustment will aid to "boost immune system function 200 percent". Quite apart from the ludicrous, utterly baseless, unscientific, unproven claims with no evidence to support them, channeling people toward these 'cures', it also turns them away from conventional medicine.  

Want to boost your immune system? Stop smoking. Eat nutritionally well. Exercise. Get a good night's sleep with adequate hours. The fear that is wracking the global community has brought quacks and imposters without conscience new opportunities to gull people and profit by their insecurities and their fears. During a public health crisis people can be convinced, through desperate, unreasoning fear, to place their trust in any kind of procedure or product that might conceivably be of real harm, not help.

The F.D.A. warned companies not to promote claims that products such as teas and essential oils could help treat the coronavirus.Credit...Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission have warned a holistic clinic based in Ontario to cease and desist in advertising and selling a tea the company claims has been used "with other coronavirus infections, including SARS" that "works well". A Calgary naturopath  who made statements relating to the availability of effective supplements was cautioned to apologize to the public for her erroneously misleading claims.

Preying on people at such uncertain, destabilizing times for society, is the mark of a true absence of conscience. Victimizing people in this manner is the act of a psychopath. Convincing people that science and medical science are inadequate and unable to solve such terrifying global pandemics, but faith and belief in alternative treatments and medicines can, is criminal.

Photos of the flyers that were sent out to B.C. mailboxes. Twitter photo.  Abbotsford’s James Rutherford listed as co-founder of alternative medicine company