24 April 2013 by Michael Kruse
It’s National Immunization Awareness Week in Canada and across the world, and UNICEF is reporting the failure of Canada to achieve the 95% immunization rate required to protect the community from resurgences of deadly and debilitating infectious disease. At 84%, we are even below the UK, which is experiencing a severe measles outbreak, and we [...]
Posted in Canada, Health Policy, Skepticism, Vaccines3 Comments
20 March 2013 by John Underhay
Regulation and licensing of businesses is considered a normal part of government bureaucracy. Some libertarians may disagree with any form of government interference in commercial activities, however, it is generally accepted that regulation is a proper government function, even if the type or level of regulation is controversial. One area that has created some discussion [...]
Posted in Featured, Paranormal, Pseudoscience, Skepticism10 Comments
23 November 2012 by John Underhay
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men. It has been said that if you are male and you live long enough you will develop the disease. That’s somewhat hyperbolic, but not much. Along with age, risk factors include race/ethnicity, nationality, family history, and socio-economic status. Prostate cancer occurs more often in [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Atlantic, Featured, Skepticism5 Comments
26 October 2012 by Dianne Sousa
Practitioner Rachel Corradetti (Toronto, Ontario) Qualifications Naturopathic Doctor (ND). Degree obtained from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM). Currently an intern at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (run by CCNM). Claims That… One can naturally cure a urinary tract infection by alternately dipping the “pelvic region” into cold lake water and hot boiled [...]
Posted in Alt-Med or Alt-Menace?, Featured, Skepticism16 Comments
14 September 2012 by Dianne Sousa
Practitioner Kate Whimster (Toronto) Qualifications Naturopathic Doctor (ND), Master of the Institute for Human Individuality (MIFHI) Claims That… Heat stroke can be treated during travel using jerry-rigged electrolyte replacement. In addition, heat stroke, trauma and shock can be treated with a homeopathic spray.
Posted in Alt-Med or Alt-Menace?, Featured, Health5 Comments
10 September 2012 by Kim Hebert
Screenshot taken summer 2011 from here. For context, see Part 1 and Part 2. I have outlined some general issues with the alternative medicine industry, I have described Bell Lifestyle Products as an example of the apparent futility of Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Database registration, and I will now describe the complaints I submitted [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Canada, Health, Medicinal Advertising3 Comments
28 July 2012 by John Underhay
The Alberta government is moving in a very dangerous direction in health care. Two recent announcements indicate support for both Naturopathy and Chiropractic. Chiropractic On July 7, 2012 the National Post reported that chiropractic treatment will be subsidized for seniors. Health minister Fred Horne said the government had budgeted $7-million to give elderly citizens access [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Featured, Skepticism2 Comments
24 June 2012 by Melany Hamill
Hey there skeptifans. Here are the Fails and Wins you sent me this week. Soldier’s mystery illness solved in 15 minutes It’s been a while since I’ve posted a case of woovertising. This one plugs a naturopath by telling the story of a man suffering chronic pain. The naturopath figured out he had worms by [...]
Posted in Skeptical Fails and Wins1 Comment
26 March 2012 by Kim Hebert
Pictured: Health consumers For background, see Part 1. The company I’m going to talk about is called “Bell Lifestyle Products” and I will use this example to demonstrate the uselessness of Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Database. The BLP “About Us” page is a testimonial by one of the owners summarizing anecdotal reports for their [...]
Posted in Alternative Medicine, Canada, Health, Medicinal Advertising1 Comment
01 October 2011 by Kim Hebert
(Photo by monkeywing.) Pictured: An actual homeopathic remedy. I am not kidding. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has drawn criticism recently for their bizarrely-worded policy proposal regarding alternative medicine, most notably from the Canadian Medical Association (general organization feedback here). Common concerns were that the policy is insufficiently objective and science-based, [...]
Posted in Alberta, Alternative Medicine, British Columbia, Canada, Health16 Comments
