If you are in possession of this revolutionary secret of science, why not prove it and be hailed as the new Newton? Of course, we know the answer. You can’t do it. You are a fake.
–Richard Dawkins
What is “woo”? I have been reading some really good blogs lately, and the word keeps coming up. I’ve always thought of myself as a bit of a pseudoscience maven, but I hadn’t heard of it before. So, a little research, a little more reading, and I’ve come up with what I consider a reasonable operational definition (if you know more than I do, fill me in):
Woo (in the medical sense, especially) is a form of pseudoscience with certain common characteristics:
- A simple idea that purports to be the one answer to many diseases or problems
- A scientific-sounding but non-verifiable reason for how it works
- A claim of persecution, usually perpetrated by the pharmaceutical or medical community
- An invocation of a scientific authority
- A claim that medical science is blind to the discovery, despite attempts to alert them
- Lack of scientific research, but abundant testimonials.
- And, usually, an offer to share the cure for a price.
There are many wonderful examples of woo out there: chelation therapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, colonics, but they all seem to share most of these characteristics. For example, homeopathy claims to treat or cure many conditions by the application of “similars”. It is a very simple idea, easy to understand in lay-terminology. It sounds scientific, but has no actual scientific evidence behind it. Practitioners often claim that mainstream medicine does not accept them because they do not want to lose patients to this wonderful cure. Their literature is full of testimonials, but short on research.
Woo is easy to believe. Explanations are simple, there is no need to read the medical literature, and peddlers offer (false) hope. Unfortunately they also enrich themselves at the expense of those who suffer. Like all opportunists, they should be ashamed of themselves…but of course, they have no shame.
Addendum:
The “Woo (or Quack) Miranda Warning”:
If you see this, run.
November 12, 2007 at 7:53 am
I am so glad to have found you. Thank you very much for the time you take to do this. I sell vitamins and read a lot about health to try and keep up with some of the news on medical discoveries. I just read 2 of your postings and you have helped me already this AM. I had received a ‘health letter’ about Chelation Therapy and all that EDTA can do for me. I usually ignore a lot of this stuff, but like you said, it was so full of ‘testemonials’ that it was extremely tempting. Then I read your post on ‘Quack Miranda’ and you answered a few more of my questions on how to tell if the health news I am getting is anything worth a damn. Altho, I do believe that in a newsletter, etc. I can see why they would have to cover their butts, as many people are stupid enough to just jump on something without consulting their physicians, etc., just like they have to print the warnings on hairdryers not to use in the bathtub, or don’t take Prep H internally. Thanks again for giving me a further understanding. By the way, what about EDTA? LOL
November 12, 2007 at 8:07 am
It’s covered in chelation therapy. Thanks so much for your comment!
November 28, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Isn’t the idea of how vaccines work somewhat derived from the idea of homeopathy? Give the body a little something to help stave off the same thing in the future?
November 29, 2007 at 6:56 am
Interesting question. The answer is “no”, but I’ll explain why. In fact, I’ll give you a whole post. Thanks for bringing it up.
January 6, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Visit our brand of “woo” at http://www.reikimissouri.com
(ed. see also http://whitecoatunderground.com/2007/12/17/woo-patrol/)
January 21, 2008 at 4:50 pm
[...] Because there is so much historical woo out there, especially about the U.S. Constitution and the “Founding Fathers.” You [...]