Originally published January 17 2006
Health editor discusses public interest and public figures in alternative medicine
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
WebMD discusses the growing phenomenon of public interest in alternative medicine, including the unlikely and somewhat unsavory champion of the popular movement, Kevin Trudeau, author of New York Times best-seller "Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You To Know About."
A book titled Natural Cures 'They' Don't Want You To Know About, hawked by its author in nonstop TV infomercials, has topped the self-help list for months.
Beyond the author's salesmanship, though, is a larger phenomenon driving so many to buy the book: Consumers are hungry for information about alternative medicine and willing to go just about anywhere to find it.
Many readers ask about dietary supplements or other alternative therapies, with some expressing disappointment and even anger over what they regard as WebMD's inadequate attention to such topics.
For example, one user, weighing various options for relieving back pain, inquires why WebMD's treatment section on back pain barely mentions chiropractic care.
Likewise, another user observes that in WebMD's cholesterol information, there's no discussion of fish oil supplements, a therapy she says has helped her.
Yet WebMD's "Health Guide" reference section on back pain, which goes into detail about medications, surgery, and even experimental therapies like Botox, devotes just two sentences to chiropractic care, saying only that it's unproven.
Typically, supplements are needed to get large enough doses to have an effect.
But WebMD's Cholesterol Health Center refers only to the benefits of eating fishbenefits of eating fish without discussing supplements.
Such a feeling echoes the main argument of Natural Cures - that there's a conspiracy by the government, drug companies, and the media to suppress information about "natural" remedies that have supposedly been proven to cure everything from diabetes to cancer.
I don't buy that idea, and I see no evidence that WebMD is deliberately withholding information about alternative remedies from its users, for financial or any other reasons.
In fact, its news articles often cover studies about therapies outside the mainstream, and WebMD has a section of the site devoted exclusively to alternative medicine.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml