It’s science vs pseudoscience

Pseudoscientific claims are gaining popularity as support for scientific system is falling.

As faith healing and quackery of yore have been replaced by their modern versions of pseudoscience in health care, the State is feared to be fast becoming a hub of individuals and groups making spurious claims about diseases and cure which experts say will have far-reaching consequences.

They appear in different names such as naturopathy, urine therapy, “nadi pariksha” or pulse therapy and others and present themselves as alternative therapies. Their major target is evidence-based modern system of medicine.

A public function conducted by a self-styled health guru in Kannur recently saw the large audience dazed by his claim that modern medicines were poisonous and diagnostic tests fake. A handbill of a “nadi parishodhana” programme held in Tirur a few days later offered treatment to almost all diseases. Health experts say that individuals and groups engaged in anti-vaccination campaign are getting good audience.

“Such pseudoscientific claims are gaining popularity as institutional support for the scientific system is being toned down,” said A.V. Jayakrishnan, general secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kerala branch. Observing that antiestablishment attitudes may encourage attitudes opposed to modern medicine, he said that those making bogus claims are now becoming popular even in urban areas.

Alternative therapies making inroads into health care are offering “expertise” in food, diet, diseases and wellness. While anecdotes are presented as data, some of the alternative therapy practitioners even use scientific-sounding buzzwords such as negative energy, positive energy or quantum healing to attract the educated.

Worried lot

Such therapies are said to be appealing to the health concerns of an already worried lot. “The hegemony of science established during the Nehruvian era is giving way to pseudoscience in every field, including health care sector,” said C. Viswanathan, orthopaedic doctor at Ottapalam and patron of the Kerala Freethinkers Forum, involved in public campaign against what practitioners of evidence-based system of medicine call “Voodoo science”. Augustus Morris, doctor and science promoter based in Kollam, questions even the use of alternative therapy. Saying that there cannot be different systems of science, he noted that scary things stated about modern medicines and their side effects are uncritically reported in the media.

Spurious claims

* Some parts of northern Kerala major centres of alternative therapy practitioners.

* Popular in urban areas via Internet and propaganda.

* Activitists see no effective steps to counter the practitioners.