North Texas Skeptic - Vol 15 No 07 - 2001

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 15, Number 7
Date: July 2001
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic delves into several topics of interest to skeptics, with a primary focus on the scientific scrutiny of homeopathy and regulatory actions against unsubstantiated health claims. The publication also includes a 'What's New' section covering various current science news items and a 'Skeptical Ink' comic.

Clinical Research in Homeopathy: A Limited Skeptical Review and Analysis (Part II)

By Daniel R. Barnett

This extensive article critically examines the scientific basis and clinical evidence for homeopathy. The author begins by discussing a study by David Taylor Reilly et al. from the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital, published in The Lancet in 1986, which tested the placebo hypothesis using a homeopathic preparation of mixed grass pollens for seasonal rhinitis (hayfever). The study reported that patients taking the homeopathic preparation showed greater improvement than those taking a placebo, with a reduced need for antihistamines and doctor's assessments confirming the difference. The study also noted a higher incidence of symptom aggravation in the homeopathy group, which the researchers considered a recognized initial response.

However, the study faced criticism. One respondent called it "the first randomised, double-blind trial of one placebo against another" and faulted its subjective assessment of response, labeling symptom aggravation as "natural progression" in the placebo group. M.F. Khan suggested the placebo should have been prepared using the same method as the active medication to rule out trace contamination. Reilly et al. defended their findings, dismissing Khan's criticisms as "informed but misplaced" and asserting that cross-contamination was eliminated, and the trial focused on the clinical effect of potencies, not chemical composition.

The article then moves to meta-analyses of homeopathic trials. It references a meta-analysis by Klaus Linde et al. published in The Lancet in 1997, which reviewed 89 placebo-controlled trials. Linde's team concluded that the results were not compatible with homeopathy's effects being entirely due to placebo, but found insufficient evidence for clear efficacy in any single condition, recommending further rigorous research. They noted issues like publication bias and a high proportion of methodologically poor studies (two-thirds), though even a subset of high-quality trials showed a reduced, but not eliminated, effect.

A second meta-analysis, published in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, examined 16 trials and also found evidence that homeopathy was more effective than placebo. However, it similarly concluded that low methodological quality weakened the evidence, and high-quality studies were more likely to be negative. The authors called for more high-quality studies.

The article traces the origins of homeopathy back to Samuel Hahnemann's experiments in 1790 with cinchona bark for malaria, which led to the principle of 'like cures like.' It notes that Hahnemann's original cinchona experiment has never been independently reproduced, casting doubt on its reliability. The author expresses a skeptical stance, emphasizing the need for consistent logic, compelling evidence, and rigorous investigation in any medical discipline.

Despite the criticisms, the article acknowledges that many homeopaths are reputable practitioners. It cites the example of Alexander Griffith, who used conventional medicine for his son's diphtheria, and Harold R. Griffith, who pioneered the use of curare in anesthesia. The article mentions ongoing research, including a study by Reilly et al. on allergic rhinitis and another by Jacobs et al. on pediatric ear inflammation. It also notes significant financial investment, such as a $250,000 grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to study homeopathy for fibromyalgia.

The article concludes by stating that the central questions about whether homeopathy works and how it works remain unanswered. It highlights the controversy surrounding meta-analyses and the need for homeopathy to resolve issues of inconsistent analysis, low methodological quality, and the quantification of concepts like vitalism and "energy medicine" within an evidence-based framework before it can be accepted into modern medical practice.

FTC Compromises Cancer Quackery in Mesquite

By Daniel R. Barnett

This section reports on the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "Operation Cure.All" project, which targets distributors of health-related supplements and devices making unfounded medical claims. Jaguar Enterprises, based in Mesquite, Texas, is highlighted for selling devices based on the work of Robert C. Beck, including the "Black Box" and "Magnetic Pulser." These devices were advertised with claims to "reverse many 'incurable' viral & bacterial conditions, including AIDS, Cancer, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Gastritis, Herpes, Hepatitis, Lupus, Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), & Rheumatoid Arthritis." The Black Box was claimed to emit an alternating polarity signal to inhibit viruses, while the Magnetic Pulser was said to neutralize viruses and bacteria with magnetic pulses.

Jaguar also sold instruments based on the work of Royal Raymond Rife, claiming they provided relief for multiple sclerosis, stroke, and certain cancers. The FTC took action because Jaguar had not produced competent clinical studies to support these "false and misleading" advertisements. Jaguar's mailing address was noted as a PO box, which the article suggests could be seen as dubious.

Under a proposed consent agreement, Jaguar Enterprises admitted jurisdictional facts but denied violating the FTC Act. They agreed to cease making false claims and to offer full refunds for purchased products. Michael Forrest, the owner, was reportedly asking supporters to write to the FTC to retract the agreement, thereby eliminating the refund program.

The article also names five other companies targeted in the same FTC phase: Panda Herbal International, ForMor International, MaxCell BioScience, Aaron Company, and Western Dietary Products. These companies faced charges for making false claims about various substances and devices, including a "Cancer Cure Organ Package" and "Diabetes Cure" sold by Western Dietary Products. Most companies settled with the FTC, agreeing to cease false claims and, in some cases, provide warning labels. MaxCell BioScience was ordered to pay $150,000 in redress. The FTC filed a complaint against Western Dietary Products in U.S. District Court.

No Comment

This section features a quote attributed to Bob Silverstein, a "Naturopathic Urine Therapist," describing urine as a "divine nectar" with "supernatural qualities" and "life-force," and a "nourishing drink" that is "cleansing, as well as medicinal."

What's new

By Robert Park

This column presents a collection of brief science news items:

• The Belief Gene: A notorious believer in cold fusion also claims magnet therapy works. The author speculates that credulity might be encoded in human DNA, possibly as a survival advantage for ancestors.
• Bush's Science Advisor: Jack Marburger, Director of Brookhaven National Laboratory, is rumored to have accepted the position of White House Science Advisor.
• Defining Science: A bill in the Oregon Senate (HR3344) seeks to define science based on a statement from the APS Council. The Oregon Cattlemen's Association supports the bill, aiming to counter environmentalists' peer-reviewed scientific arguments.
• Global Warming: A report from the National Academy, requested by the Bush administration, concluded that global warming has occurred in the last 50 years due to human activity, reflecting a scientific consensus. Critics are now debating whether warming is beneficial.
• EMF and Cancer: Three men in Albuquerque developed breast cancer, and their lawyers attributed it to electromagnetic fields from a nearby power vault. The article criticizes the lack of statistical and scientific analysis presented on the show, questioning the link between EMF and DNA mutations.
• Astrology in India: India is reportedly seeking to "rejuvenate the science of Vedic astrology," with major universities competing to offer new courses, similar to the US trend of establishing alternative medicine departments.
• Cell Phones and Churches: Cell phone providers are making deals with churches to conceal antennas in steeples, presenting them as picturesque rather than as communication towers.

Skeptical Ink

By Prasad Golla and John Blanton

This section contains a three-panel comic strip. The first panel shows a man claiming to be a pet psychic who can communicate with live or dead pets. The second panel depicts the same man looking at a dead dog by the road, stating it's now in "pet heaven chasing a Limosine." The third panel shows two people and a dog, with one person asking the dog, "Should I bite him now or while he is going home?" The comic satirizes claims of psychic abilities and the absurdity of some beliefs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently adopts a critical and evidence-based approach to evaluating claims, particularly in the realms of alternative medicine, pseudoscience, and health-related products. The magazine champions scientific rigor, reproducible evidence, and logical reasoning. It actively debunks unsubstantiated claims, exposes medical quackery, and promotes a skeptical mindset towards phenomena lacking empirical support. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and against the proliferation of misinformation, especially when it poses potential harm to public health or exploits vulnerable individuals.