/oss/taxonomy/term/51/all en /oss/article/medical-pseudoscience/homeopathy-scientifically-implausible <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/the-right-chemistry-homeopathy-is-scientifically-implausible">Montreal Gazette</a>.</em></p> Fri, 12 Jan 2024 18:23:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9801 at /oss /oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/world-health-organization-has-pseudoscience-problem <p>The World Health Organization has a definition of the soul.</p> <p>It is not technically theirs, but it appears in the glossary of one of their many official documents. The soul, according to the WHO, is derived from the astral organization, which is another term they have had to define. The astral organization, you see, is distinct from the etheric organization. That same document, coming out of the world’s foremost authority on global health, mentions such esoteric concepts as rhythmical embrocation, a type of energy healing that involves rhythmic strokes on the body.</p> Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:00:51 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9496 at /oss /oss/article/technology/i-chatted-artificial-intelligence-about-quackery <p>“Some people find relief from illness by using natural remedies such as herbal teas, essential oils, and warm compresses. These remedies are not proven to be effective for treating illness, but some people find them to be helpful.”</p> <p>I didn’t not paste the above text from a government website or copy it from a book. This is what an artificial intelligence (or AI) told me a few seconds ago when I asked about some natural ways to heal from illness.</p> Fri, 16 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 9327 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/dna-teleportation-really <p>French virologist Dr. Luc Montagnier, who was awarded a share of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, passed away on February 8. The Prize, awarded for his 1983 discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), was richly deserved but was not without controversy. Without doubt, the identification of the virus was certainly a landmark event, but the discovery was disputed by American biomedical researcher Robert Gallo who claimed that he had detected the virus before Montagnier. This led to a long and acrimonious dispute that was finally settled with the intervention of U.S.</p> Thu, 24 Feb 2022 19:07:32 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9035 at /oss /oss/article/pseudoscience/dr-ozs-sad-trip-down-rabbit-hole <p>It seems that Dr. Mehmet Oz’s transformation from respected surgeon to deplorable pseudoscience advocate is complete. He recently slandered Dr. Fauci as a “petty tyrant” and then called him “cowardly” for not taking the bait to get into a “doctor-to-doctor debate” with the surgeon-turned TV snake oil salesman-turned politician. Oz may once have been a very competent physician, but he is way, way out of his depth when it comes to immunology, virology and epidemiology. He is just not in Dr. Fauci’s league.  </p> Fri, 18 Feb 2022 22:01:11 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9030 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-pseudoscience/here-be-homeopathic-chameleons <p>In the fight against pseudoscience, the idea that simply providing more information works every time has been questioned these last decades. The thinking used to be simplistic: when non-experts disagree with scientists, it must be because they lack the correct information. But as we have seen in the growing struggle against the anti-vaccination movement, feelings don’t care about facts. When your identity is shaped by pseudoscientific beliefs, you have made your brain more or less impervious to facts.</p> Sat, 27 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8933 at /oss /oss/article/covid-19-health-and-nutrition/lets-play-jeopardy-clue-quarterback-who-believes-homeopathic-immunization <p>That would be the same Aaron Rodgers, MVP quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, who filled in admirably as guest host on the popular game show that is associated with intelligence. In this case, his choice of being immunized, not with a vaccine, but rather with a homeopathic remedy, does not scream intelligence. Rodgers claims that he is “not an anti-vax flat earther,” he is a “critical thinker.” Really? How much critical thinking did he do before jumping on the homeopathy bandwagon? </p> Fri, 05 Nov 2021 21:04:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8917 at /oss /oss/article/thomas-mulcair-tells-journalists-homeopathy-works-him <p>I attended a pro-homeopathy media event on November 19<sup>th</sup> supported by Thomas Mulcair, the former leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada and also the former president of the Office des professions du Québec, which is tasked with ensuring that professions in our province are exercised with competence and integrity.</p> Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:13:32 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8002 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/quebec-pharmacies-show-signs-progress-homeopathy <p>If you walk into a Quebec pharmacy and reach the “cold and flu” section, you may see a sign you’ve never seen before. The green-blue notice will tell you, “dear customer”, that there is “generally” no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of homeopathic products. In one store (perhaps in an act of quiet vindication), the pharmacy staff slapped the notice over a pull-out display meant to help you figure out which homeopathic product may be right for you. The notice essentially answers, “None.”</p> Fri, 17 May 2019 01:15:39 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7767 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/debate-about-homeopathy-mere-placebo-or-great-medicine <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-1"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-uwvnms2bje8" width="640" height="390" title="Debate about Homeopathy: Mere Placebo or Great Medicine?" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UwVNms2Bje8?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-uwvnms2bje8&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Debate about Homeopathy: Mere Placebo or Great Medicine?" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="">Video of Debate about Homeopathy: Mere Placebo or Great Medicine?</iframe></div> Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:36:58 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7550 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/two-thirds-montreal-pharmacies-sell-quack-flu-buster <p><img height="880" width="998" style="width: 600px; height: 529px;" class="file-original " src="/oss/files/oss/figure_1_1.png" alt="" /></p> <p>If your child has the flu this winter, you may be tempted by an all-natural treatment that has a Health Canada approval number and that is sold in many pharmacies. Its name is so challenging to the human eye, its maker has capitalized on this bafflement for one of its marketing slogans: “unpronounceable but effective.”</p> Fri, 11 Jan 2019 17:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7529 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/oil-oregano-alternative-yet-not-homeopathy <p>Before a television appearance this week to promote my new book, “A Feast of Science,” the producer asked if we could address “homeopathic drugs, like oil of oregano” that I discuss in the book. Therein lies a problem, namely the widespread misunderstanding of what homeopathy is all about. A far too common belief is that homeopathy encompasses all sorts of remedies that are not mainstream, ranging from acupuncture to herbal remedies. This is totally incorrect.</p> Thu, 17 May 2018 19:01:43 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7094 at /oss /oss/article/health-nutrition-quackery/cracked-science-05-who-created-cancer-good-thing-montrealhealthygirl <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-2"></div> Thu, 10 May 2018 18:21:39 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7078 at /oss /oss/article/health-quackery/cracked-science-11-winning-against-institutionalized-pseudoscience <p></p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-3"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-bqkzz6b3ibe" width="640" height="390" title="Winning Against Institutionalized Pseudoscience (CS11)" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bQkzZ6B3ibE?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-bqkzz6b3ibe&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="Winning Against Institutionalized Pseudoscience (CS11)" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="">Video of Winning Against Institutionalized Pseudoscience (CS11)</iframe> </div> Thu, 10 May 2018 18:18:25 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 7076 at /oss /oss/article/quackery/cracked-science-01uc-irvine-and-integrative-medicine <p><div class="media-youtube-video media-element file-default media-youtube-4"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" id="media-youtube-pormuylhtxu" width="640" height="390" title="UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PoRmUYlHTXU?wmode=opaque&controls=&enablejsapi=1&modestbranding=1&playerapiid=media-youtube-pormuylhtxu&origin=https%3A//www.mcgill.ca&rel=0" name="UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of UC Irvine and Integrative Medicine (CS03)</iframe> </div> </p> Wed, 09 May 2018 21:54:24 +0000 Jonathan Jarry, MSc 7060 at /oss