And All Things Natural - A Look Behind the Curtain

A very enlightening read. Debunkery at its finest. But also Offit acknowledges instances were alternative medicine may be a viable route as he points out the misconceptions, ignorance and profiteering in the alt. med., industry. Would highly recommend it to anyone, especially those with chronic pain issues and health conditions, like myself.

Depressing though since I have been a proponent of all the various Natural medicines for more than 35 years. He clearly states why things do and do not work. An obvious enemy of Summers, Dr. Oz, Chopra, Weil! Still I like him and I will keep the book close each time I feel that I just must have 'those vitamins' .. just to re read his common sense approach that he is trying to impress on to the general public.

I am amazed by the fact that trained scientists do allow themselves to belive in treatments that do not withstand scientific proofts, and even refusing to let the treatment that they recommend be subject to scientific tests. This has been the most amazing experience that I got from reading this book.

Paul Offit is the voice of reason in medicine. He says, "There is no alternative medicine. Only medicine that works and medicine that doesn't work." The faith that gullible people put in commercial products is astounding to me. The people that argue that big Pharma is only in it for the money do not hesitate to give Suzanne Sommers their hard earned money.

He brings clarity in an eminently readable book that I think everyone should read. He is fearless but rational and not dogmatic.

If you ever took "dietary supplements" it is worth reading this short soundly researched book. Of 50,000 supplements aside from normal doses of vitamins (don't overdo it), only two have been demonstrated effective. Fish oil and extra vitamin D.

Everyone should read this.

I have too many friends, spending too much on vitamins and quack health things that have NO basis in reality. While this book doesn't cover everything ... it's a very good start at encouraging us to think more critically about what we are being told and who is making money on our distorted view of reality. Might give a lot of copies to friends and family for gifts... it would save them so much and in so many ways!

Read it!! It will be well worth your while.

When Dr. Offitt finishes telling the history of a health fad, you will laugh at everyone who fell for it and is still falling for it. The author has a fast, condensed history of all the major fads, especially vitamin supplements. Almost every million-dollar-profits supplement of weird stuff (or plain water) has been demolished by a simple scientific investigation. Suzanne Somers has more anti-aging chemicals in her than DuPont's headquarters, but she injects Botox anyway.

The consumer needs to realize the dangers of alternative medicine. Alternative medicine is medicine that has been proven not to work better than placebo. If it worked better then placebo it would be called medicine. Stop wasting your money on the stuff people.

Offit actually performs a useful service in thoroughly debunking many of the 'snake oil' aspects of the CAM scene. He approaches his task with apparent zest, and clearly from the standpoint of a cheerleader for science, which is to say he's a dyed-in-the-wool scientific materialist who dismisses any notion of the potential for spiritual healing outside of the physiologically-proven placebo effect. Well, he's an M.D. so fair enough - we'd expect him to see through this lens.

Sadly, he doesn't look at any of the well documented cases of radical remission that cannot be explained by medical science. So those remain unexamined, and that's one of the things I was hoping to see here.

Even more sadly, and the real problem with this book, his skeptical focus is limited to his analysis of alternative med. Nowhere that I can recall does he turn this skeptical gaze upon the medical establishment itself, which in this day and age has become in far too many blatant cases an active marketing arm for the pharmaceutical industry.

He could *seriously* take a page from Scientific American's John Horgan, who says things like this:

"I’m a science journalist. I don’t celebrate science, I criticize it, because science needs critics more than cheerleaders. I point out gaps between scientific hype and reality. That keeps me busy, because, as you know, most peer-reviewed scientific claims are wrong (Google: PLOS Why Most Published Research Findings Are False).

So I’m a skeptic, but with a small S, not capital S. I don’t belong to skeptical societies. I don’t hang out with people who self-identify as capital-S Skeptics. Or Atheists. Or Rationalists.

When people like this get together, they become tribal. They pat each other on the back and tell each other how smart they are compared to those outside the tribe. But belonging to a tribe often makes you dumber."

Based on what he's written in this book, Offit can be classified as a dues paying member of the tribe that Horgan describes, above.

The notion that science as currently practiced, which is more civil religion than anything, complete with priesthood and rituals, should be viewed through innocent and uncritical eyes is the tragic flaw exhibited by our hero.

Tellingly, he even dismisses out of hand therapies for which there is growing and very solid scientific evidence of profound efficacy - hallucinogens. Well designed research studies at world renowned university research centers by very distinguished researchers at Hopkins and NYU, as just two examples, are demonstrating powerfully beneficial outcomes for terminal cancer anxiety - others are showing similar results for PTSD, depression, addiction and more - but of course the mainstream medical system (aka tribe) remains institutionally opposed to these substances (Max Planck: “A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents finally die.”) - and so Offit duly falls in line with the establishment, dismissing hallucinogens, I suppose because, well, that's what toe-the-line establishment types do to burnish their creds with the tribal leaders.

So, Offit clearly stands staunchly with the old guard here. A shame because his powers of analysis are quite good, and there is no better place that he could have used them, had he chosen, then in his own backyard. Instead demonstrated his blind spot.

This is the kind of selection bias that has put our society in such a difficult position. We cannot trust the medical peer reviewed lit anymore, nor doctors who are either enriched or bamboozled by pharma reps, claims and cherry picked papers, and there's simply not much in the way of research into CAM therapies. Between Scylla and Charybdis, says I.

One major reason for this is that the research money flows from pharmas to the mainstream medical establishment and universities for research that the peer reviewed lit itself clearly shows tilts in favor of pharmaceutical companies (with additional studies showing the cozy financial ties between that industry and the paper authors - look up 'ghost writing' in this regard for a real eye opener), while little money is available for testing alternative therapies that are all too often dismissed due to cultural biases.

So, all in all, what's a sick person to do?

Well, this book sadly doesn't provide an answer to that pressing question, but it does warn people to be on their guard when investigating the CAM scene, which is a good thing. That's why it got 2 stars instead of one.

My recommendation: be just as on guard when walking into your doctors' office. Especially if you see the staff munching on a lunch provided by the (invariably attractive) friendly neighborhood pharmaceutical rep.

This information is a welcome balance to the flood of info inundating the public from the vitamin and alternative health care camps pushing their agenda on the North American public. Vitamin companies should be held to the same standards as pharmaceutical companies and made to prove scientifically that the pills, capsules and potions they sell will do what they claim and this book explains why. Four out of five stars because I would have liked to have more direct references to the scientific studies debunking the the vitamin myths.

I found this book entertaining and interesting, but was a bit disappointed by the focus on low hanging fruit. I would have liked to have seen a few chapters on the ways that genuine scientific literature can be structured to hide gaps in evidence and analysis. The author mentioned a few of these areas in the prologue but provided no further follow up.

Common sense never read so well. Unfortunately, the people who criticize the book's approach probably won't read it and even if they did wouldn't be impressed. If you don't have a religious devotion to alternative methods or medicine, read it. If you do, but think you might be able to muster a little objectivity read it. The rest of you just keep on carping and having useless expensive procedures.

To anyone afraid of vaccines, to anyone who buys supplements (NONE of which are regulated by the FDA), to anyone who questions "western" medicine, please please PLEASE read this book. Full of helpful education, and also interesting looks at the historical roots of alternative medicine in our country and big legislation events in the last 100yrs or so. To anyone who works in the healthcare field, feels strongly pro modern medicine and wants to learn more about supplements, their history, and just how unregulated (read: no one is really watching what goes into those bottles or verifies they have what they claim to have) they are, please read this book.

This book gives a concise but informative view into the economics, politics, and psychology of dietary supplements and alternative medicine. I would recommend it to anyone willing to be skeptic of alternative therapies and dietary supplements.

Most alternative medicine procedures and most supplements are not properly tested for safety and efficacy. Since we as a public seem to believe in magic, useless or dangerous drugs and procedures are an easy sell Before buying, read about laetril and other frauds which had wide distribution and harm.

An interesting book filled with relevant anecdotes about the abuses (and uses) of alternative medicine. One of the most interesting chapters occurs late in the book and deals with the issues of the placebo effect and the nocebo effect.

If supplements makers are making so much money, why don't they spent some of that money by having real scientists check this vitamins and supplements to prove that they really do what the label says (if indeed it does work they should have nothing to fear)At least real medicine is always tested and proven that it works before being accepted by true experts before going to the market place.This is a fact, not a myth. If you still wish to believe in magic,keep on doing it. After all; we live in a free society.Just keep your eyes on your hard earned money please.
Just look at the warning of every so call supplements or miracle pills. Those scamming companies put in all of their labels;
This statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. ( this part does not bother me that much ) but then the continue by putting on the same label:
"THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE". So, Why are they saying these products are good for you. Never mind the FDA, have another independent body prove their claims and efficacy. Do you know why they wont do it?
Because they risk to lose billions of dollars that they get every day from nice people whom are naive or inexperienced and believe in the words of unscrupulous scammers such as Dr Oz who make much more money lying to people on his show, than practicing medicine by betraying his Hippocratic Oath to cure people with real medicine, not scamming medicine.

This book is very informative and the topics are very interesting, which is what led me to purchase this book.

It is probably a great book if you are very familiar with medical terms and are knowledgeable in the fields, but for an every day reader like me with little background of medicine and research, the language was a bit too dry and long, which made the book boring. I still gave the book 3 stars because I feel like the author has a clear, thorough knowledge of the topic and the book is overall informative.

Very interesting book, very well written and with a lot of research background. It describes the scientific method, that is testing substances against a control, for statistical significance. It is shocking to learn how many products on the market have never been tested that way, sometimes are sold even when the results are negative (because there are no regulations of vitamins and supplements sales) and quite often are advertised by celebrities in good or bad faith. Greed and fear and other emotions run businesses but also a lot of our health and well being.

There is no "alternative" medicine. There is medicine and there is Blarney Stone.
Dr. Offit offers the prospect that, at some point, reason and sense might prevail.
The notion, common to modern "journalism" that fairness requires presenting all sides of issues is absolutely nonsensical.
When one (or more) sides of an issue can present no evidence, genuine fairness requires they be buried!
If so-called supplements actually do ANYTHING positive, why are the supplement manufacturers not documenting and promoting the positive values of their products?
Anyone who is contemplating consuming any supplements should read this book!

Dr. Offit makes logical, evidence- based arguments against some harmful alternative medicine practices. He also provides a well researched history into alternative practices and the theories behind them. In the end, with his epilogue, through a beautiful and real world example, he brings together the use of both alternative and conventional medical therapies allowing each their unique place in healing humans. This was an illuminating and fascinating read.

Clearly explains the negatives of believing hyped remedies that provide false hope. If you are someone who has ever said,"I don't really like modern medicine", this book is for you. It deftly explains why you should.

Dr. Offit ask the question - Do you believe in magic? This is a question for all doctors to ask themselves. In order to ask this question they first have to understand what the magic is. For most of their patients it is a hope to cure what has not been cured. This is not a book for the parents of a sick child looking for a magic cure. It is not a book for the scientist trying to dequack the hucksters selling their spin at huge benefit to their own lives. It is by design that Dr. Offit ask this question not to the Wizard, who has misguided millions of devoted followers but to the many scientifically trained physicians who do not understand the trance our free population has spiraled into. They regularly deal with the fourteen year old mother who is afraid of the shot for herself let alone for her new born child. They treat a population that get their answers from the TV and the internet where the truth is suppose to be at the top of the Google list. Where they believe that since the Wizard says old medicine must be good because it is old even if the truth says it doesn't matter if the pins and needles even crack the skin the effect is the same for the believer of magic and the scientist.
If you want to develop a list of charlatans Dr. Offit can help you get started. If you read his book with the idea that you are not going to stop the poor from buying lottery tickets or the rich from trying unconventional alternatives for hope, then you may be able to begin understanding the power of the magic. Should we be angry after reading what Dr. Offit shows us to be the sides of medicine that have been a part of our existence when prayer was the only science man knew?
So Doctor, say something to your patient that can give hope in a desperate case and you are creating a magic that just might keep your scientific mind looking for another answer to the problems we have not been able to solve.

Everyone should read this book! I have long felt that a great deal of alternative methods to traditional health care were bogus and that some were making big money from it. This is an eye-opening read.

Spent time in both the allopathic and naturopathic worlds. Offit’s book, complete with historical and political explanations about alternative medicine encourages my confidence to lean towards science and evidence.

I bought this book because I've been researching which vaccinations I need boosters for. I am currently pregnant with my 4th child who is due in January. This book was fantastic on so many levels for my needs. My oldest son has Autism and a large number of the families that we associate with practice alternative medicine and are in the anti-vaxx crowd. Unfortunately, the science does not support their choices, but they are desperate for answers and vulnerable to the charlatans in the alternative medicine industry. The MASSIVE bibliography (about 1/3 of the book) and sourced information of this book speaks for itself. People need to take the science as seriously as they do the anecdotal stories shared by parents whose lay-person perspectives are biased because they have an emotional connection to the struggles that come from having a child diagnosed with autism. Keep in mind that autism diagnosis rates have continued to climb as the rate of vaccinations have fallen for the last 5 years--proving that there is no causation relationship. Please educate others after you read this book!

Americans today are inundated with radio and television ads for "all natural" supplements to increase sex drive, shrink the prostate, improve aging cartilage in joints, cleanse the colon, ward off cancer and make anyone live longer, healthier and happier---and it only requires you to take a little pill. At the conclusion of the sales pitch, an announcer gives the most important information of the ad in a hushed, speeded-up voice that is virtually unintelligible: "This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Uuummm...why did they just assure me that my sex life would improve, my prostate would shrink, my joints wouldn't ache, and my life would be longer if I took their pill if their pill wouldn't prevent, cure or treat my malady? To find out you need to read Dr. Offit's insightful book. If you are a male, after reading this book, you'll flush your Vitamin E daily supplement down the toilet since, as Dr. Offit points out, the epidemiology demonstrates that these "All Natural" pills are increasing your chances of getting prostate cancer by 17%, the claims of the vitamin and supplement hucksters that anything "all natural" can't hurt you notwithstanding.

Dr Offit's arguments are thoroughly researched and evidence-based. However, the book is a surprisingly easy read. If you put more credence in science than in celebrity endorsements, you will find this well-written book to be a page-turner. If you typically get your information on the latest advances in medicine from Oprah, this book could save your life.

More folks should read it. It doesn't really teach you what to do other than be more concerned and/or just give up managing your health. It does support traditional heath care vs. the money grubbing hype of the supplement industry.

As someone with a chronic illness, I really appreciate this book. Early in my illness, in desperation, I went to an alternative doctor and nutritionist. They ignored my (correct) diagnosis, ordered expensive tests and prescribed expensive supplements that my insurance didn't cover, and put me on a diet that literally almost killed me and did land me in the hospital for 2 weeks. But because they were medical professionals, I trusted them and did what they said. 4 years and much research later and I realize it's almost all snake oil and practiced by either delusional enthusiasts or amoral con artists. Not only did they seriously injure me,they caused me to waste a ton of money, put me in the hospital and delayed my real treatment.

I thought the book was easy to read and captivating, with tons of sources and data, and I liked how he pointed out that we do actually use a lot of medicine derived from plants. My favorite part of the book was the section on supplements.

Be skeptical. We have modern science and treatments for a reason. As the book states, there is no such thing as alternative medicine - only medicine that works and medicine that doesn't.

There is a lot of misinformation about "miracle" cures, so it's good to learn the facts from a physician who has researched what works and what doesn't. As he has said, if treatments work, they're not an "alternative." They're medicine.

There really IS no "alternative" medicine, as Offit points out. If something works, it's just "medicine";. If it doesn't, it's alternative/complementary/integrative/...or one of the other rebrandings of "quackery".

If you're seriously ill and faced with a choice between "Western", "allopathic", or "conventional"; (or any of the other labels that quacks and their supporters give to modern medicine) it's not worth risking your life to support your belief in alternative medicine. Go to a doctor who has an M.D. behind his or her name, but with your eyes open. Alas, some of them are quacks, too (e.g. Oz, Chopra). As the book demonstrates, while charging (with some justification) that many (not all) doctors are only about making money, these medical charlatans have made huge profits themselves selling products and treatments that don't work and can't possibly work.

One word in the title suggested this final thought: only children believe that "magic" is real. Adults should not.

Excellent book. Reviewing most of the alternative medicine, the author give all of us a good advice to think twice before taking any vitamins or supplement. Is it safe? Has it be tested? How it works? Is it based on evidence?

Dr. Offit does it again! Finally, some clarity, common sense, and science applied to the wacky world of Jenny McCarthy, the "University of Google," and the general crackpotism that poisons needed progress in important areas such as autism.

Compelling evidence that what really works in most cases is the individual attention and comfort many alternative therapies bring to the relationship. That said, medicine can learn from this... patients are using alternative medicine in many cases because they are seeking a healing relationship and the delivery of "magic" is based on relationship building. While many people believe in the what the author calls magic, it is magic when they can change their behaviors that lead to improved health. What is sad is the unbelievable cost of all the "treatments, herbals, and jewelry" ... yet people will buy that and not be willing to eat better food! Or increase their activity, For the hard core magic believers, this book will challenge your thinking...but well worth reading with an open mind..

the most sensible and fair-minded account of the supposed rivalry between conventional and alternate medicine, that is, "there is no such things as conventional and alternative medicine..there is only medicine that works