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[image: Your daily Update] December 22nd, 2011 Science-Based

Medicine » Iridology<http://ptmanagerblog.com/science-based-medicine-iridology>

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Iridology <http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/iridology/>

Published by

Novella<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/author/steven-novella/>und\

er

Naturopathy<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/category/naturopathy/>

,Science and

Medicine<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/category/science-and-medi\

cine/>

Comments: 6<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/iridology#comments>

<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Iridology-2.gif>\

There

are many medical pseudosciences that persist despite a utter lack of either

plausibility or evidence for efficacy. Some practices emerged out of their

culture of origin, or out of the prevailing ideas of a pre-scientific age,

while others were manufactured out of the imagination of perhaps

well-meaning but highly misguided individual practitioners. They were just

made up – homeopathy, for example, or subluxation theory.

Iridology belongs to this latter category – a system of diagnosis that

wasinvented entirely by Ignatz

Peczely<http://altmed.creighton.edu/Iridology/history_of_iridology.htm>,

a Hungarian physician who first published his ideas in 1893. The story goes

that Peczely as a boy found an owl with a broken leg. At the time he

noticed a prominent black stripe in the iris of one eye of the owl. He

nursed the bird back to health and then noticed that the black line was

gone, replaced by ragged white lines. From this single observation Peczely

developed the notion of iridology.

Peczely’s idea was that the iris maps to the rest of the body in some way,

and therefore the flecks of color in the iris reflect the state of health

of the various body parts. This basic approach to diagnosis or treatment is

called the homonculus approach – the idea that one part of the body maps to

the rest of the body, including the organ systems. Reflexology, auricular

acupuncture, and even straight chiropractic follow this approach.

This is what might have happened next: After publishing his initial

observations, Peczely set out to test his ideas with well-designed

observations that were capable of proving his hypothesis wrong. He

carefully built a body of descriptive, but well-established, facts about

the relationship between the iris and health. Later, anatomists discovered

the underlying mechanism of this connection – a vast system of

interconnectedness between the iris and the rest of the body. Further

research built on the iris connection, and later medical scientists found

more and more ways to exploit this fascinating aspect of anatomy and

physiology.

Of course, this is not what happened. Peczely did not do any serious

scientific research. Rather, he simply invented a pseudoscience, by drawing

maps of the iris that were as much a product of his imagination as

observation, and were largely the result of confirmation bias. He did not

perform blinded studies, or produce the kind of evidence that could

separate a real phenomenon from an imaginary one. Iridology, as his

practice became known, is the N-rays of medical diagnosis. Further, no

subsequent science has supported the plausibility or reality of iridology.

There is no underlying anatomy or physiology that can explain how the iris

would reflect the state of function of any other part of the body.

This, unfortunately, has not stopped iridology from surviving on the

medical fringe for more than a century. The modern popularity of iridology,

especially in the US, can be traced back to a chiropractor named Bernard

Jensen. He published the book, *The Science and Practice of

Iridology<http://www.amazon.com/Science-Practice-Iridology-Vol-Nature-Cure/dp/18\

85653239>

* in 1952. Iridology, or iris diagnosis, continues to be practiced by

so-called alternative practitioners, including some chiropractors and

naturopaths. It has never been recognized as a legitimate medical practice.

For example, for $150 naturopath Navratil

<http://www.irisdiagnosis.org/new/en/ir6.html>will diagnose you from a

digital image of your eyes.

Often the iris diagnosis (which can also be done by software analysis)

leads to recommendations for supplementation, which are conveniently sold

by the iridologist. Here is a

description<http://www.iridology.com/iridology.aspx>of how iridology

is used by a proponent:

The iris reveals changing conditions of every part and organ of the body.

Every organ and part of the body is represented in the iris in a well

defined area. In addition, through various marks, signs, and discoloration

in the iris, nature reveals inherited weaknesses and strengths.

By means of this art / science, an iridologist (one who studies the

coloration and fiber structure of the eye) can tell an individual his/her

inherited and acquired tendencies towards health and disease, his current

condition in general, and the state of every organ in particular.

Iridology cannot detect a specific disease, but, can tell an individual if

they have over or under activity in specific areas of the body. For

example, an under-active pancreas might indicate a diabetic condition.

Other sites caution that iridology cannot diagnosis pregnancy, because that

is a natural condition of the body, and also cannot diagnose prior surgery,

as anything that happens under anesthesia will block the signals that would

otherwise change the iris. In other words – iridology only tells you about

the susceptibility for disease – it cannot actually diagnose a disease or

any other verifiable condition. This reasoning is called special pleading –

the invention of a special rationalization for each fact that might

otherwise falsify a claim or belief. Iridology, apparent, can only discern

those things that cannot be verified or falsified.

What you end up with is a medical cold reading – similar to what a

mentalist does to create the illusion of mind reading or psychic powers.

While “reading” the iris the iridologist can ask about certain health

issues. If they are present, that is used to validate iridology. If absent,

then the subject simply has a susceptibility for the missing problem.

Iridology lacks any plausibility and its history is that of a

pseudoscience, not a legitimate practice. But still we listen to the best

scientific evidence in determining whether or not iridology is real.

Perhaps Peczely got lucky and made a correct observation despite his lack

of scientific confirmation. If iridologists could demonstrate that their

reading provide real information, then we would have to take their claims

seriously.

In 2000 Edzard Ernst (not surprisingly) published a systematic review of

iridology research <http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/118/1/120>.

He concluded:

In conclusion, few controlled studies with masked evaluation of diagnostic

validity have been published. None have found any benefit from iridology.

As iridology has the potential for causing personal and economic harm,

patients and therapists should be discouraged from using it.

As with N-rays, when blinding is introduced iridology is exposed as a

complete fiction. Under controlled conditions iridologists cannot agree

with each other as to diagnosis, and cannot distinguish healthy subjects of

very ill subjects. Since the Ernst review I found one other well-controlled

study of iridology, this one in cancer

diagnosis<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15992238>.

From the abstract:

SUBJECTS:

One hundred ten (110) subjects were enrolled in the study: 68 subjects had

histologically proven cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, or

colorectum, and 42 were control subjects.

METHODS:

All subjects were examined by an experienced practitioner of iridology, who

was unaware of their gender or medical details. He was allowed to suggest

up to five diagnoses for each subject and his results were then compared

with each subject’s medical diagnosis to determine the accuracy of

iridology in detecting malignancy.

RESULTS:

Iridology identified the correct diagnosis in only 3 cases (sensitivity,

0.04).

CONCLUSION:

Iridology was of no value in diagnosing the cancers investigated in this

study

There are no well designed studies that are positive.

*Conclusion:*

Iridology is an excellent example of pseudoscience in medicine, displaying

many of the core features. It was invented by one individual based upon a

single observation. It follows a pre-scientific notion of biology – the

homonculus model. It lacks any basis in anatomy, physiology, or any other

basic science. Its practitioners are mostly “alternative” practitioners who

use the technique as a cold reading. And the research clearly shows that

iridology has absolutely no effect – it does not provide any useful

information at all.

Anyone using or promoting iridology is, therefore, a pseudoscientific

practitioner. Any profession that endorses iridology is not science-based

and should be looked upon with suspicion.

via

sciencebasedmedicine.org<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/iridology\

/>

To repeat: There is medicine and not medicine; there is no alternative

medicine. Time to end the non-sense - non-science and be adults about this

serious issue. If it is non-science based, it is not medicine.

Science-Based Medicine » Alas poor Craniosacral. A SCAM of infinite

jest, of most excellent

fancy.<http://ptmanagerblog.com/science-based-medicine-alas-poor-craniosacral>

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Alas poor Craniosacral. A SCAM of infinite jest, of most excellent

fancy.<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/alas-poor-craniosacral/>

Published by Mark

Crislip<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/author/mark-crislip/>under

Chiropractic<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/category/chiropractic\

/>

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>

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Comments:

32<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/alas-poor-craniosacral#comments\

>

It is hard to Sokalize

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokal_affair>alternative medicine. The

closest has been buttock

reflexology/acupuncture<http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6979.full?sid=399ff7\

0a-c25d-45f9-a875-67d8f83b4ddf>,

but that is a tame example. Given the propensity for projections of the

human body to appear on the iris, hand, foot, tongue, and ear, postulating

a similar pattern on the buttocks are simple variations on a common SCAM

(Supplements, Complementary and Alternative Medicine) theme. The buttocks?

Not really different from any of the other focal acupunctures. Most of

SCAM does not concern itself with application of reality and physiology,

anatomy, biochemistry, etc can all be expected to be ignored with virtually

all SCAM modalities.

Every time I think the heights (or depths) of absurdity has been reached, I

discover a Braco the Starer or Himalayan Salt Inhalers. This blog is not

affiliated with the British Medical Journal in any way, and although this

is being published near Christmas, I want no one think that what follows is

a hoax. I am not, I repeat not, making up what follows. It is not

fiction. Well, it is fiction, but not written by me and believed and

practiced by some who really should know better.

Craniosacral Therapy

Like many SCAM modalities, from Reiki to Chiropractic, Craniosacral

Therapy (CST) was invented? discovered? fabricated? pulled out of the a..,

well, er, Drs Novella and Gorski want this to be a professional blog *, so

lets say, a three letter word that starts with ‘a’. Air. It was pulled out

of the air by Garner

Sutherland<http://www.cranialacademy.org/cranial.html>

..

While a student at the American School of Osteopathy in 1899, Dr.

Sutherland pondered the fine details of a separated or “disarticulated”

skull. He wondered about the function of this complex architecture. Dr.

Still taught that every structure exists because it performs a particular

function. While looking at a temporal bone, a flash of inspiration struck

Dr. Sutherland: “Beveled like the gills of a fish, indicating respiratory

motion for an articular mechanism.

Here is a picture of a temporal

bone<http://www.masseyeandear.org/gedownload%21/TemporalBone%20%282%29.jpg?item_\

id=1206034>

:

<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/temporal-bone1.j\

pg>

Here is a cranial

suture<http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Labs/Anatomy_ & _Physiology/A & P201/Ske\

letal/skull/calvarium_sutures_PA281058.JPG>

:

<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/cranial-sutures.\

jpg>

And here is a fish

gill<http://www.websters-dictionary-online.org/images/wiki/wikipedia/commons/thu\

mb/f/fd/Tuna_Gills_in_Situ_01.jpg/300px-Tuna_Gills_in_Situ_01.jpg>

:

<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/gills.jpg>

I guess drug use was more popular than I thought back in the day. Maybe I

am not able to get the right photograph of gills to see the connection.

You? Do you see the connection, or do you lack the “unique genius” of Dr.

Sutherland ? Because the temporal bones are beveled like fish gills (!),

the bones of the head are supposed to move relative to each other (!) with

respiration (!). That is the insight that lead to CST. I wonder if the

abstract announcing his discovery would have been accepted at the

International Conference on Integrative Medicine. It makes gluteal

reflexology appear reasonable in comparison.

Dr. Sutherlands’ insight did not stop there. He synthesized his

observations into “The Primary Respiratory Mechanism”:

This Primary Respiratory Mechanism has five basic components:

1) The inherent rhythmic motion of the brain and spinal cord.

2) The fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that bathes and

nourishes the brain and spina l cord.

3) The shifting tensions of the membranous envelope (dura mater)

surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This entire membranous structure

acts as a unit and is called a “Reciprocal Tension Membrane.”

4) The inherent rhythmic motion of the cranial bones.

5) The involuntary motion of the sacrum (tailbone) between the ilia (hip

bones).

I don’t know that means. I read the words, I think about what I understand

about anatomy and physiology, I reread the above and I got nothing. A word

salad, it appears to be all sound and fury, signifying nothing. Repeat. It

is not meant to be fiction.

To make it more mysterious, or fanciful, the CSF has tides:

“1) the cranial rhythmic impulse; a more superficial rhythm expressed at an

average rate of 8-12 cycles per minute,

2) the mid-tide; a tidal rhythm that carries ordering forces into the body

expressed at a slower rate of approximately 2.5 cycles per minute and

3) the long tide; a deep and slow rhythmic impulse expressed about once

every 100 seconds. The long tide is considered to be the first stirring of

life and motion as the Breath of Life emerges from a deeper ground of

stillness at the center of our being.”

I know topic was the death of MacBeth’s wife but Act 5, Scene 5, lines

26-28<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_and_tomorrow_and_tomorrow>keeps

running in my head. It is an explanation of physiology that would be

right at home on Dr. Oz’s site, but has no relationship to any known

anatomy or physiology. Other

explanations<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xI8J6DJO_A & feature=related>of

the tides make no sense to me, containing nothing I can recognize as

content amongst what appears to be a word salad. Although I suspect CST

would appeal to

Bloodline<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodlines_Parasites#Bloodlines_Parasites\

>aliens.

I do not think there is a SCAM where the practitioners deny the evidence in

their hands. There are videos of CST therapists saying that, unlike what

is taught in medical school, the bones of the skull are not fused and

articulate. They say this with Yorick

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorick>in their hands, a skull evidently

never contemplated. If you have ever

held a skull in your hands, or been in a neurosurgical case, it is evident

that the cranium is notable for the rock solid joinings of bones. The

metaphor is thick skulled, is it not? It is not fish-gilled skulled.

Acupuncturists may blather about meridians and homeopathists drivel on

about the memory of water, but at least they do not hold the dis-confirming

evidence in their hands, denying its existence. I have seen patients deny

an obvious tumor or the symptoms of advanced AIDS. Look at that skull in

your hands. The bones do not move. To have a whole field of SCAM based on

the denial of palpable reality is most curious. As Marx

said<http://quotations.about.com/od/funnymovieandtvquotes/a/grouchomarx1.htm>,

sort of, “Who are you going to believe, Sutherland or your lying eyes?”

What does a practitioner do

<http://www.craniosacraltherapy.org/Whatis.htm>with the insight that

the CSF flows incorrectly and the cranial bones are

out of wack? CST

“involves the practitioner “listening through the hands” to the body’s

subtle rhythms and any patterns of inertia or congestion. Through the

development of subtle palpatory skills the practitioner can read the story

of the body, identify places where issues are held and then follow the

natural priorities for healing as directed by the patient’s own physiology.”

As I gather from the gibberish of the YouTubes and CST sites, they push the

bones of your skull back into place, alter and optimize the flow of CSF and

make you better. I think. Because nothing they say really makes any

anatomic or physiologic sense:

The trained practitioner palpates for the sensation of resistance on the

skin surface overlying the spine and cranium. Resistance is thought to be

indicative of underlying CSF stasis, and following treatment, the absence

of drag may indicate that the CSF stasis has been reduced.”

as one of a tedious

series<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2842089/?tool=pubmed>of

examples. They can feel

the tides and CSF rhythms <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8997803> and

alter them. They can change the tides, at least the CSF tides. I am old

school when it comes to altering tides: And te tide and te time þat tu

iboren were, schal beon

iblescet<http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/384000.html>.

But that is obvious, which is why it is an aphorism.

The cranial rhythmic impulse is an oscillation recognized by many bodywork

practitioners, but the functional origin of this impulse remains uncertain.

We propose that the cranial rhythmic impulse is the palpable perception of

entrainment, a harmonic frequency that incorporates the rhythms of multiple

biological oscillators. It is derived primarily from signals between the

sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Entrainment also arises

between organisms. The harmonizing of coupled oscillators into a single,

dominant frequency is called frequency-selective entrainment. We propose

that this phenomenon is the modus operandi of practitioners who use the

cranial rhythmic impulse in craniosacral treatment.

Colorless green ideas sleep

furiously<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorless_green_ideas_sleep_furiously>ind\

eed.

Take an anatomy and physiology that does not exist, then

postualte a mechanism of action. At least in that respect there is not a

difference between CST and acupuncture or homeopathy. Except quantum. Where

is the quantum. We need

quantum<http://www.massagetoday.com/archives/2005/10/11.html>

..

Practical Uses of Quantum Physics Concepts in CranioSacral Therapy

Adding a few new intentions to your hands-on work is quite simple. All you

need to do is incorporate a few principles of quantum physics.

First, we direct our energy into hard, stiff or restricted areas of the

client’s body.

Of course, I giggle like the immature person I am. I know. What an infant.

But I giggled a lot writing this entry; truly a field of infinite jest. Of

course, the only real parallel between CST and quantum of any kind are

N-Rays <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_ray>, sharing identical reality.

Similar to other SCAMs, there is zero

consistency<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11313614>in the ability

of CST practitioners to feel the same tides in the same

patients.

Two registered osteopaths, both with postgraduate training in diagnosis and

treatment, using cranial techniques, palpated 11 normal healthy subjects.

* METHODS:*

Examiners simultaneously palpated for the CRI at the head and the sacrum of

each subject. Examiners indicated the “full flexion” phase of the CRI by

activating silent foot switches that were interfaced with a computer.

Subject arousal was monitored using heart rate. Examiners were blind to

each other’s results and could not communicate during data collection.

* RESULTS:*

Reliability was estimated from calculation of intraclass correlation

coefficients (2,1). Intrarater reliability for examiners at either the head

or the sacrum was fair to good, significant intraclass correlation

coefficients ranging from +0.52 to +0.73. Interexaminer reliability for

simultaneous palpation at the head and the sacrum was poor to nonexistent,

ICCs ranging from -0.09 to +0.31. There were significant differences

between rates of CRI palpated simultaneously at the head and the sacrum.

* CONCLUSIONS:*

The results fail to support the construct validity of the “core-link”

hypothesis as it is traditionally held by proponents of craniosacral

therapy and osteopathy in the cranial field.

Reproductively and the ability to consistently feel the tides has been

refuted in more than one trial <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9806622>.

King Canute <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnut_the_Great> they aren’t.

In reality what do CST practitioners do? They lightly massage your head.

To treat everything from Downs to headache to PMS. It is an all purpose

diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, like all SCAMs.

There are no shortage of

videos<

the techniques of CST, one practitioner states she pushes the

bones back into alignment with a 5 gram pressure, the weight of a nickel.

I do not think a nickles worth of pressure would move a skull bone a

quantum amount, not even if dropped off the Empire State

Building<http://www.jimcarson.com/2004/monday-morning-armchair-physicist/>

..

Once I had a colleague (really, a colleague. Not me) who commented he liked

to have hair cuts because the scalp massage with the wash and condition was

very relaxing, and I will admit that lying on ones back while you head is

massaged looks very pleasant, especially if it occurred in the middle of a

busy work day and was paid for by Blue Cross. If you had a process that

was due, in part, from stress, I can see where a CST session would be most

beneficial. I always return to the example of the relaxing effect of apes

mutual grooming, although “in deference to one million years of human

evolution<http://homepage.eircom.net/~odyssey/Quotes/Popular/SciFi/_\

..html>,

the therapist won’t try to pick fleas off his patient.” Or so one hopes.

I wrote the last paragraph before I did a Pubmed search on the topic. Lets

see if CST helps headaches independent of the incomprehensible blather that

underpins the field. I bet it will be helpful for anything with a

subjective endpoint and I bet that for hard endpoints, CST will do nothing.

There are 56 hits on the Pubmeds using Craniosacral therapy, and there are

no even remotely well done studies using CST. The most interesting

predates the NEJM

asthma<http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1103319>article

discussed

at length at

SBM<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/spin-city-placebos-and-asthma/\

>

..

In it <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17234566>

Subjects were randomly assignment to one of five groups: acupuncture,

craniosacral therapy, acupuncture and craniosacral, attention control, and

waiting list control.

* METHODS:*

Subjects received 12 sessions of equal length with pretreatment and

posttreatment assessment of pulmonary function, asthma quality of life,

depression, and anxiety. Medication use was also assessed.

Can you predict the results? Yep. Patients were subjectively improved,

but their objective asthma was not better.

When treatment was compared with the control group, statistically treatment

was significantly better than the control group in improving asthma quality

of life, whereas reducing medication use with pulmonary function test

results remained the same.

As one would expect from a relaxing head massage. Others are also less than

enthusiastic <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10709302> about CST

*MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:*

A three-dimensional evaluative framework with related appraisal criteria:

(A) craniosacral interventions and health outcomes; ( validity of

craniosacral assessment; and © pathophysiology of the craniosacral system.

* RESULTS:*

The available research on craniosacral treatment effectiveness constitutes

low-grade evidence conducted using inadequate research protocols. One study

reported negative side effects in outpatients with traumatic brain injury.

Low inter-rater reliability ratings were found.

* CONCLUSIONS:*

This systematic review and critical appraisal found insufficient evidence

to support craniosacral therapy. Research methods that could conclusively

evaluate effectiveness have not been applied to date.

Despite the structural integrity of the skull, CRT proponents insist “*Eppur

si muove* <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eppur_si_muove>“. And there is one

time where the bones of the skull are moveable: after head trauma. Then,

perhaps, pushing on the skull, even 5 grams worth, may not he such a good

idea. I have seen enough trauma over the years to be cautious around

breaks in human structural integrity. Not so much with CST:

Although craniosacral manipulation has been found empirically useful in

patients with traumatic brain injury, three cases of iatrogenesis occurred.

The incidence rate is low (5%), but the practitioner must be prepared to

deal with the possibility of adverse reactions.

Why do I think of the word “squelch” when I read the abstract; too much Joe

Aberrcombie <http://www.joeabercrombie.com/>of late? It turns out

that the adverse

reactions from

CST<http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:grQcI6kmQ5sJ:www.ostmed\

-dr.com:8080/vital/access/services/Download/vcom:32405/SOURCE01+ & cd=5 & hl=en & ct=c\

lnk & gl=us>are

every bit as fanciful as beneficial effects:

These three cases represent a diversity of adverse reactions following

craniosacral manipulation. The first patient had exacerbation of

vertiginous symptoms during diagnostic evaluation alone. After

sphenobasilar decompression, visceral symptoms involving cardiac,

respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems arose. This feature suggests

either brain stem or vagal effects as a possible source of the symptom

complex. The second patient had exacerbation of headache complaint, but,

more important, a disturbing psychologic/psychiatric problem, necessitating

psychiatric institutional care. The severe total body spastic reaction seen

in the third patient continues to defy explanation. The possibility of a

brain stem seizure triggered by stimulation of the upper cervical spine and

cranial base or posttraumatic cervical dystonian remains plausible.

Extensive evaluation failed to demonstrate a specific cause.

It is a tough economy, and jobs are scarce. For 5 to 12 thousand dollars

and 700 hours (150 if you are already a licensed massage therapist) you can

be a CST provider. That’s 88 days of education, about a semesters worth.

And then maybe you can practice at a University Medical Center. Like

Ohio<http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/viewer/Pages/index.aspx?ItemID=131>.

Or

Duke<http://www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/our-physicians-providers-and-staff>.

And of course, Dr

Oz<http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=8450292 & page=1#.TubNjZNSSQk>

has offered CST, so you know it must be nonsense.

There are probably other institutions that offer the raging nonsense that

is CRT, but I grow weary of the searching. But it should not be part of any

University, since <http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/82/11/1146.long>

…we believe that craniosacral therapy bears approximately the same

relationship to real medicine that astrology bears to astronomy. That is,

this approach to “health care” is medical fiction, and it is not

appropriate to teach fiction as part of medical or allied health curricula.

I wonder if Duke or Ohio are going to offer astrological readings or have

as a Visiting Lecturer. It would only be a lateral step, not

a step backwards. Seriously. If your local Hospital or University offers

CST, go elsewhere. They have a demonstrated commitment to the irreparably

goofy.

To sum up: CST now beats Braco the starer. I don’t think The

Onion<http://www.theonion.com/articles/revolutionary-new-insoles-combine-five-fo\

rms-of-ps,759/>could

do better

via

sciencebasedmedicine.org<http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/alas-poor\

-craniosacral/>

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December 22, 2011

This author does the disservice of lumping homeopathy in with

pseudoscientific treatments. While the homeopathic principle of greater

dilution equalling greater potency seems counter-intuitive and doesn't make

sense given science AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, homeopathic treatment can be

remarkably effective, especially for many chronic conditions for which

allopathic medicine has insufficient answers. In addition, double blind

studies have been performed proving its efficacy. For example, IIRC, one

double blind study in the British Medical Journal demonstrated the efficacy

of rhus tox for treating fibromyalgia. To further rule out any placebo

effect, I've personally seen homeopathic medicine take an 11 year old

Siberian husky that was so arthritic, it couldn't jump into the back of an

car and in 3 weeks, the dog jumped easily and with no pain on a consistent

and repeatable basis. The dog had no idea that the homeopathic remedy would

make him better. I'd venture that the author had little or no actual

experience observing a skilled homeopath successfully treat patient after

patient quickly, at low cost, and with no side effects. It's a tool and

like any other tool and knowing where and how to apply it makes all the

difference in the world, whether in human medicine or veterinary medicine..

, PT, OCS

Marquette, MI

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There

are many medical pseudosciences that persist despite a utter lack of either

plausibility or evidence for efficacy. Some practices emerged out of their

culture of origin, or out of the prevailing ideas of a pre-scientific age,

while others were manufactured out of the imagination of perhaps

well-meaning but highly misguided individual practitioners. They were just

made up - homeopathy, for example, or subluxation theory.

Iridology belongs to this latter category - a system of diagnosis that

wasinvented entirely by Ignatz

Peczely<http://altmed.creighton.edu/Iridology/history_of_iridology.htm>,

a Hungarian physician who first published his ideas in 1893. The story goes

that Peczely as a boy found an owl with a broken leg. At the time he

noticed a prominent black stripe in the iris of one eye of the owl. He

nursed the bird back to health and then noticed that the black line was

gone, replaced by ragged white lines. From this single observation Peczely

developed the notion of iridology.

Peczely's idea was that the iris maps to the rest of the body in some way,

and therefore the flecks of color in the iris reflect the state of health

of the various body parts. This basic approach to diagnosis or treatment is

called the homonculus approach - the idea that one part of the body maps to

the rest of the body, including the organ systems. Reflexology, auricular

acupuncture, and even straight chiropractic follow this approach.

This is what might have happened next: After publishing his initial

observations, Peczely set out to test his ideas with well-designed

observations that were capable of proving his hypothesis wrong. He

carefully built a body of descriptive, but well-established, facts about

the relationship between the iris and health. Later, anatomists discovered

the underlying mechanism of this connection - a vast system of