Comments on: The Detox Scam

By: gsullivan

gsullivan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:59:12 +0000

I don’t know what to make of this:
http://www.jonbarron.org/detoxing-health-program/2009-01-19.php

It seems to me that this gent is making the argument as complicated as possible in order to progress his own system of detox?

By: theo

theo — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:23:28 +0000

As an Aussie, I can say with much authority, your British accents are as good as the British (generally) are at sport – i.e. not very. (I say generally due to the anomalies of the 2008 Olympics, the 2005 Ashes (cricket), and the 2003 Rugby World Cup…)

Also, “chap” is definitely male.

By: PaulG

PaulG — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:17:41 +0000

@Dr. N

Speaking as a Brit’, I really can’t remember the last time I heard ANYBODY use the word “chaps” (and yes, it’s pretty male-oriented).

Come to think of it, the last time I heard “chaps” was the SGU Rogues doing the Brit’ accent again (by way of Dick Van Dyke) – this is EXCRUCIATINGLY embarrassing. Makes me cringe every time I hear you guys go into the routine. But what the Hell, we listen anyway, don’t change a thing!

By: Steven Novella

Steven Novella — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:08:24 +0000

Is “chaps” male specific these days? Then I stand corrected. I assumed it was like “guys” in that it can be used as gender-neutral.

By: elvismorte

elvismorte — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:48:35 +0000

Great post as always. However, “A great bunch of chaps?”
I know you were trying to sound British, old boy. However, five of the thirteen of just the Board of Trustees are female. So I’m not sure it’s an accurate description, dude.

By: Fifi

Fifi — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:30:16 +0000

Here’s one of the many neuro supplement scams out there…I’d love it if you’d debunk this since they promote themselves very, very heavily and aim their pitch to people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

http://www.neurowellness.com/
http://www.neuroassist.com
http://www.chknutrition.com/
http://www.integrativenutrition.com/

And contact info for the sellers of “NeuroReplete”

To get a list of trained practitioners, please call 877-626-2220. Any one of the well trained technical support staff will be more that happy to give you the names and contact information of people who able to help you.

Somebody called Marty Hinz,MD is promoting it.

By: HHC

HHC — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:43:01 +0000

I found the name of a leading authority on neurotoxic detoxification, R. Shoemaker.

By: Calli Arcale

Calli Arcale — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:18:54 +0000

neokortex, I seem to recall reading (possibly on Respectful Insolence, possibly on Science Based Medicine) that the foot pads were invented in Japan — your girlfriend could translate the name and the Japanese characters in the ad, but I seem to recall it simply refers to one of its major components. (A kind of bamboo? I don’t remember.) But if I recall correctly, in Japan, it wasn’t sold as a detox but simply as a method for cleaning one’s feet. Some enterprising individual saw this and realized he could rebrand it as a revolutionary (and simultaneously traditional) detox system with a fashionable Asian cachet, and then sell it to gullible people who aren’t familiar with the Japanese originals. If I recall correctly, that is.

By: sonic

sonic — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:45:45 +0000

psamathos- actually detox could mean the removal of toxins from the body. This can be applied to numerous procedures. This could save lives (as it currently does)
The example Dr. N. refers to ‘heavy metals’ is just one of many.

By: neokortex

neokortex — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:10:26 +0000

The Kinoki foot pad marketing ploy is to imply that they some secret or popular Japanese remedy–which combines a TCM-type appeal with “breakthrough medicine” from a high tech society. Funny thing is my girlfriend was born and raised in Japan and has never once heard of any such thing.

Besides, would not a scientific validation of its effectiveness include–at a minimal–performing a chemical analysis of the content of whatever is on the pad itself plus whatever the “dirty stuff” is on it in the morning? Could well be nothing more than one of those facial cleansing pads used to remove dirt and oil.