Here’s Part 2 of an excerpt from my and Donal O’Mathuna’s book, Alternative Medicine: The options, claims, evidence, how to choose wisely. You find the book here. Next week, I’ll post another five warning signs.

6. Are technical words used without a clear definition? “Energy” is one of those words. Claims that a therapy “boosts energy” can mean anything from the common idea that you feel better able to do things, to Eastern ideas of promoting the flow of chi or prana. Introducing ideas from quantum physics is usually not necessary if the product really works. Information sheets should clarify, not baffle with mind-boggling gobbledy-gook.

The Associated Press reported this week that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation of Kinoki Foot Detox.

What’s their alleged crime?

They claim their foot “pads use secrets of ancient Japanese medicine to cure or lessen many health woes.”

As my co-author, Donal O’Mathuna, PhD, and I write in our book, Alternative Medicine: The options, claims, evidence, how to choose wisely, one of the warning signs of quacks and frauds in the alternative medicine world is that they claim to use “ancient,” or “forgotten,” or “hidden” secrets to “cure” this and that and that and that, etc.

Here’s an excerpt from my and Donal O’Mathuna’s book, Alternative Medicine: The options, claims, evidence, how to choose wisely. You find the book here. Each week, for the next 4 weeks, I’ll post another five warning signs.

So, when you suspect quackery or fraud, how do you know if your suspicions are right? What are some of the warning signs?

When evaluating a medical claim, here’s what to look for.