Snake Oil

Hawking snake oil to sick people is heartless.

The FDA agrees and recently sent out a series of “warning letters” to various companies and individuals who tout unproven claims that their products can cure cancer. They’re talking about things like bloodroot, shark cartilage, coral calcium, cesium, mushrooms, black salve, etc., products which marketers claim can “destroy the enzyme on DNA responsible for cancer cells,” grant the power to “neutralize” carcinogens, or otherwise cure a disease which has thus far proven to be uncurable. Noting that health fraud is a “cruel form of greed,” the FDA is concerned that consumers are buying these “natural” pills, tonics, and creams instead of (or in addition to) FDA-approved safe, effective treatment overseen by a medical doctor.

While I have my doubts about what the FDA has approved as safe and effective, let’s not be stupid. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

You will not find a cure for any chronic disease or terminal illness on a website that suggests you buy their amazing cure-all tonics and pills. Such remedies may not only prove costly and ineffective but may also be harmful instead of living up to their beneficial claims. Save your time and money for legitimate products and information that are truly and openly intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness.

If you’re interested in trying some unproven therapies and advancing real research into treatments and cures, there are some legitimate clinical studies available through the National Cancer Institute and more through the National Institute of Health.

The FDA suggests that consumers be alert for the following phrases as signs of health fraud in product or treatment claims:

• Statements that the product is a quick and effective cure-all or a diagnostic tool for a wide variety of ailments.
• Suggestions that a product can treat or cure serious or incurable diseases.
• Claims such as “scientific breakthrough,” “miraculous cure,” “secret ingredient,” and “ancient remedy.”
• Impressive-sounding terms, such as “hunger stimulation point” and “thermogenesis” for a weight loss product.
• Claims that the product is safe because it is “natural.”
• Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results.
• Claims of limited availability and advance payment requirements.
• Promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees.
• Promises of an “easy” fix for problems like excess weight, hair loss, or impotency.

For more information on how to identify red flags on bogus cancer remedies, check out Beware of Cancer Fraud. Or talk to your doctor, for crying out loud.

Incidentally, I found out about this via a CNN article (FDA cracks down on ‘cancer cures’). It is ironic that directly below that CNN article was a Google ad for a site that offered “11 Ways to Kill Cancer - Learn 11 natural strategies that effectively attack and kill cancer”. (Yeah, how’s that AdSense working out for ya?)

These 11 strategies involve various “homeopathic” or “holistic” products (Volcanic minerals, mushrooms, essences, beryllium, mysterious sea water minerals, acids, enzymes, and more) which purportedly kill cancer or neutralize the process that leads to cancer. But just in case anyone might really expect these products to actually, you know, attack and kill cancer, the so-called strategies all include the usual disclaimer that “The products and information contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or, medical problems.”

Read between the lines. There’s some good advice hidden there.

Don’t let some snake-oil selling fraud profit off your sickness.

IMAGE CREDIT
Clark Stanley’s Snake oil liminiment from Wikipedia. License is Public Domain.