I'll admit it. I know a couple of quacks. I also know a number of people who use them. I've mostly thought "each to their own", or the more cynical "it's a mug tax", but I've supported their businesses and vouched for their character. I don't believe these are snake oil peddlers, they believe in their product. They are honest.
Except, then I follow the logic... And it becomes uncomfortable.
Start with the premise that a therapy or product either has a physiological effect or it doesn't.
If it doesn't work we have two outcomes. the therapist either wrongly believes that it does work, in the face of failing treatments; or they know it doesn't work and are deliberately peddling snake oil.
(So we conclude they are either a little dim, or a fraudster.)
If the treatment does have an effect we have two outcomes. Either the therapist sees it has an effect and looks to behave in a safe manner by testing the safety of the treatment, or they treat with no consideration for side effect or negative outcomes.
(So we conclude they are a professional, or reckless.)
And this is where I have become uncomfortable. Let's say a therapy seems to work but we don't know how. We see a physiological response. We need to know it cannot damage! If you honestly believe that pushing pressure points on my feet might affect my liver function, you need to know that it can't stop my lungs working surely? Otherwise you're dangerously reckless. Manipulate my scalp... Feed me dilutions... Stick a candle in my ear... If you think it can change my body, you need to know it can't change it in a negative way before you risk peddling it.
The only way you can be comfortable that your untested therapy won't kill someone is if you know that it's theatre. If you know that it's theatre, you're peddling snake oil. Deliberately selling placebo.
Someone with integrity who genuinely believes in a therapy would only give it if it were tested as safe; and if it were tested as safe and effective, it's therapy... Not alternative.
So the only conclusion I reach is that the person giving untested "alternative" therapies is either selling snake oil knowing it's snake oil or recklessly giving an untested therapy without caring enough to consider unknown side effects.
Given I like the various individuals I know in this field, I think I'd prefer it if I knew they were deliberate snake oil peddlers, rather than deliberately reckless.
