Concerning Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is a complicated topic and politics even more so. In Sweden’s major paper it was today possible to read an opinion article concerning both topics. As one of he authors there are perhaps a few things that I should explain concerning my involvement, what has a mentalist to do in an article about science and state subsidizes?

I have signed the article as a “mentalist” since that is my profession at the moment. I also have a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry so I have some understanding of scientific method and chemistry. As a mentalist I know a lot about how to fool people, how to use suggestion, tricks, cheating and psychology to create an image of supernatural powers. Powers not unlike what is claimed for some alternative treatments. Even more important I know a lot about how people fool themselves. We have one very good tool to differentiate between those of our convictions that correspond to reality and those that don’t, that tool is science.

I want to see the state using our money wisely. It is preferable if the state only gives money to things that is known to be effective. The way to know what is effective is to try it in a controlled way. A lot of alternative medicine has not been tested in this way, or if it has been tested it has been shown to have no effect, or even to been harmful.
It is still true that alternative medicine that has been shown to work is called medicine.
Each individual should have the right to try the treatments that they like but I can see no reason for the state to give money to unproven treatments apart from in researching the effects of those treatments. I know how easy it is for a person to believe in something without adequate information. That is true for the supernatural powers that I “demonstrate” in my show and it is true for some peoples believes in alternative treatments. Believing something does not make it so. That is why the state should not give money to things just based on peoples believes. If an alternative treatment has an effect it will give a positive result in a proper scientific test, why is it so controversial to ask for evidence?

It is apparently necessary to point out that as a mentalist I am an entertainer, a magician, or in the words of Jamy Ian Swiss, I am an honest liar. A blogger raised some concern regarding my involvement in the article. I hope I have explained my involvement above. In no way is anything that I do supernatural and I never claim that it is.

In the end I must say that I am very much pleased with the response to our article. It was mentioned in the SVT (Swedish television) news and a radio debate between the chairman of the Swedish sceptics and one of the politicians mentioned in our article was also conducted.