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This post will demonstrate the critical thinking process behind Reason for Belief #3: the image of the rock being unmoved.

The extraordinary claim with this image is that something/someone superhuman moved this rock, to as not leave a trace.

This blog written by the National Park Foundation (https://www.nationalparks.org/connect/blog/sailing-stones-death-valley) details the phenomena of the moving rocks. This has been occurring in Death Valley National Park, located on the border between Nevada, and California in the USA. This same source offers a scientific explanation, in which they describe natural elements (ice, wind, rain) all working in perfect unison to push the rock. However, the video below is an episode of a show entitled 'Weird or what?". In the show they attempt to simulate these wind and water forces, and find no success in moving the rocks. Local residence believe that this is a "spiritually charged area". That supernatural forces are the reason; either aliens or magic.

The first source is credible. The article cites scientific research that has followed the scientific method by many different academics. The second source however, must be deemed unreliable, as the nature of the show is to create mystery for the viewer. This mystery increases the popularity of the show, and thus increases the profit that producers are making. The first source is unbiased, and the second has a bias potential. While the 'weird or what' documentary was unable to reproduce the results, the initial article cites another academic who has. The distrust of the documentary is enough to say the results may have been tampered with, or some results excluded.

Therefore, we can conclude with the scientific evidence: winds and water in this area can reach high speeds and pressure - which is enough to move the rocks.

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Sailing Stones of Death Valley - Paranormal Supernatural Documentary

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Definition: Unknown. In pseudoscience, this is an event/idea that does not have sufficient proof of knowledge to accept or deny its claims.

Connection: The following image shows a rock that has been moved a seemingly great distance through the sand. With no footprints, or other signs of human or animal activity, how the rock moved is an unexplained phenomena. Due to the fact that no proof can be found to support a logical reason the stone moved, an illogical reason, such as witchcraft or aliens, seems equally plausible.

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Definition: The belief that because an answer is simple, it must be true.

Connection: The image below shows what appears to be a simple math problem. Even those with a significant skill in math may reflexively say the answer is that the ball costs $0.10. This is because it is the simplest answer to the problem. The real correct answer is that the ball must cost $0.05, and the bat must cost $1.05, as when you add these two numbers together, only the is the total truly $1.10.

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Definition: When a pattern of behaviour/events are being, or attempted to be, observed, while no pattern is truly there.

Connection: The following image of a cliffside rock formation may resemble a horse. Many people may believe this to be a sign, or a calling, but the horse head truly isn't there. The human brain is wired for facial recognition, so we sometimes perceive faces and images that aren't there.

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Definition: All natural is the idea that foods, medications, cosmetics, and toiletries that are labelled “all natural” are healthier and actually good for you and your body. The truth is though, that the standards for a product being all natural are so low that this label is virtually meaningless, not to mention that many things found in nature are also deadly. Poison Ivy is all natural, would you buy a salve with that as the main ingredient? …I didn’t think so.

Connection: This article unveils the untold truths of “natural” beauty products. Most people believe that when they are purchasing a natural product it has no artificial ingredients, is chemical-free, and made from plants or other ingredients found in nature. Unfortunately though, most of these products are usually chock full of dangerous chemicals that could cause skin irritations, or could cause life altering long-term illnesses. In fact, the definition of natural depends on what country you live in. Different countries have different definitions of the word “natural. Other word like “vegan” and “organic” are legally defined, but “natural” is not legally defined and this gives room for shady ingredients to be put into a product.

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Buying natural beauty products is more than just a craze - it's part of an overall healthy lifestyle. We all know that natural is a popular buzzword, but what does "natural" really mean? You would think it would accurately describe a product with no artificial ingredients, perhaps is chemical-free, or made from things found growing in the ground. But, that is not necessarily true. You will never look at natural products the same way again when you learn their untold truth.

It turns out that many natural products are not natural at all. In fact, many can contain dangerous chemicals that at the very least can irritate your skin and at the very worst can cause life changing long-term illnesses. Just don't forget to grab a garbage bag because you might clean out your medicine cabinet in a major way after learning these shocking facts.

The definition of natural depends on what country you live in

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In America, the Food and Drug Administration does not have an official definition of the word natural. From a corporate standpoint, this is great for marketing, but the lack of standards can pose problems when companies are trying to be forthcoming with consumers. I spoke to Kristie Garduno, who owns Giving Soaps, which is a line made from 100 percent plant derived ingredients.

"I am constantly trying to educate the public on this," she revealed. "My business is making bath and body products, and I constantly get asked if the ingredients are natural. It's an impossible question to answer honestly, because while vegan, organic, and other terms are legally defined, the word natural has no legal definition. A manufacturer of literally anything can write natural on the packaging and still be completely in the clear, as far as the FDA is concerned."

Some "natural" products aren't natural at all

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In America, the Food and Drug Administration does not have an official definition of the word natural. From a corporate standpoint, this is great for marketing, but the lack of standards can pose problems when companies are trying to be forthcoming with consumers about natural products. I spoke to Kristie Garduno, who owns Giving Soaps, which is a line made from 100 percent plant derived ingredients.

"I am constantly trying to educate the public on this," she revealed. "My business is making bath and body products, and I constantly get asked if the ingredients are natural. It's an impossible question to answer honestly, because while vegan, organic, and other terms are legally defined, the word natural has no legal definition. A manufacturer of literally anything can write natural on the packaging and still be completely in the clear, as far as the FDA is concerned."

Kelli Connaughton, who is a certified functional diagnostic consultant, revealed to me there is another big problem with the FDA's lack of definition for the word natural. "In the US, personal care products have a ban on only 11 chemicals and the products are not highly regulated. Europe bans over 1,300 chemicals."

Natural products can contain carcinogens

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Carcinogens are defined as anything that can cause cancer. Many natural products contain chemicals that are known carcinogens. Connaughton revealed one of the worst offenders is deodorant, which can contain aluminum. "Aluminum is bio-accumulative [meaning it] builds up and is stored in fat cells."

It is also shocking to discover another product many of us use to prevent cancer can actually contain ingredients that may cause it. "Sunscreen usually has [nanoparticles] of carcinogens. Nanoparticles are so small they are able to cross the blood brain barrier, burrow into organs, cause free radicals in skin cells, and damage the DNA. Nanoparticles are not required to be listed on labels."

If you want to avoid using products with carcinogens, Connaughton suggests avoiding products with the following ingredients: "Fragrance, parabens, petrolatum, petroleum, polyethylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ceteareth, triceteareth, retinyl palminate, aluminium, diethanolomine (DEA), cocamide DEA, lauramide DEA, formaldehyde releasers, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium, synthetic colors and dyes, glycol (labeled as propylene, butylenes), mineral oil, talc, and siloxanes."

Natural products can contain ingredients that disrupt hormones

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Natural products can contain chemicals (both naturally-occurring and synthetic) that are endocrine or hormone disruptors. According to Dr. Kalpana DePasquale, a board-certified ear, nose, and throat surgeon, one of the worst offenders is sodium laurel sulfate (SLS). She told me, "SLS mimics estrogen and there is concern that over time greater than one percent of this ingredient can be absorbed into the bloodstream and residual levels in your body can be higher."

While you would think it would be relatively easy to avoid just one ingredient, it is easier said than done. As DePasquale explained, "This ingredient is found in more than 90 percent of personal care and cleaning products that foam. If present in a concentration of greater than one percent, SLS can cause severe irritation and even corrosion of the skin."

But that is not the only hormone disruptor, Connaughton also suggested looking out for a few more including, "Fragrance, parabens, triclosan, oxybenzone, octinoxate, petrolatum, and petroleum."

Preservatives are a big issue when it comes to natural products

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Truly natural products or products with natural ingredients tend to have shorter shelf lives. While natural preservatives exist, there is a caveat, which Connaughton explained. "For a preservative to be effective it needs to prevent against gram positive and negative bacteria, mold, and yeast. There are natural preservatives, which are natural antioxidants, that are meant to preserve products but they do not protect the product from bacteria and yeast or mold, as long as synthetic. So true natural products expire sooner."

Furthermore, labels can be even more deceiving than they appear to be, especially if preservatives are listed. Connaughton told me this can be problematic and dangerous. "Like 'fragrance' the industry may use catch all terms such as 'preservative.' Catch all terms should be avoided because different ingredients are able to hide behind it."

Connaughton also revealed that preservatives used in natural products can be very dangerous. "Common preservatives, [such as] Germaben and Germaben II are used often with natural products. These may cause skin irritations or reproductive or organ toxicity. Another preservative, LiquaPar Oil contains parabens, which are carcinogenic, and endocrine disruptors."

Vitamin C is a scientifically proven natural ingredient

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Vitamin C, which is an ingredient in many serums and other natural products, has been extensively studied. Janice Rosenthal who is the owner of Garden of Essences explained to me, "Once vitamin C is absorbed into the skin cells, the production of collagen increases up to eight times." Additionally, Rosenthal shared that according to a government study, "Vitamin C also reduces melanin production, which in turn, reduces age spots and pigmentation."

Vitamin C can be derived form natural sources such as fruits and vegetables, but it can also be made synthetically. Rosenthal revealed, "Many expensive serums contain the cheapest, least effective form of vitamin C, ascorbic acid, which are largely man-made in a laboratory. That is why using a plant oil will always be superior, because natural vitamin C will be vastly more effective."

Rosenthal also told me that not all vitamin C is created equally. "Some vitamin C serums have claims to contain these natural plant oils, like sea buckthorn oil which contains a vitamin C content 12 times higher than oranges, but that does not compare to goji berry seed oil, which contains 500 times more vitamin C than found in oranges. And secondly, if the serum's ingredients do not state what percentage of sea buckthorn oil it contains, you could be applying a filler of 90 percent sunflower oil to your face!"

Natural doesn't always mean vegan

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Many people believe natural products are vegan, but that is untrue. Something can only called vegan if it contains no animal or animal-derived ingredients. But making sure you are using vegan products is not as cut and dry as it sounds. This is because there are some natural ingredients that can come from both vegan and non-vegan sources.

An example of this is squalane. Squalane is a chemical compound naturally found in the human body. It helps us retain moisture, but unfortunately as we age our body makes less and less of it. However, there are several sources of squalane that are used in skincare products, such as shark liver. While shark livers are natural, they aren't vegan. Luckily, there are vegan and way more sustainable sources of squalane such as sugarcane.

Some more potentially animal derived ingredients commonly found in skincare products and cosmetics include allantoin, amino acids, albumen, beeswax, biotin, carmine, castor, emu oil, honey, hyaluronic acid, lanolin, glycerin, royal jelly, and snails. Additionally, any product that says there are "naturally derived ingredients" on the label can contain non-vegan ingredients.

Natural products aren't necessarily a better choice

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While many people think natural is best, it can depend on both the person and product. For example, according to Christophe Merville, who is the director of education and pharmacy at Boiron USA, herbs are natural, but they can be problematic for some people. He told me, "Herbs are usually concentrated extracts that could trigger side effects or counter indications."

Furthermore, due to a lack of labeling standards, natural products can contain ingredients that can be irritating to any number of people. We can avoid this buy understanding what the ingredients listed on the label really do. If a "natural" product has ingredients with side affects or can potentially cause an allergic reaction, it is not necessarily the best choice for an individual.

Products labeled homeopathic aren't necessarily natural

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Enter any health food store and you will find plenty of products labeled homeopathic, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are natural products. According to Merville, "Homeopathy is a 200-year old therapeutic method that is based on a series of observation and empirical knowledge and uses the principle of similars. A homeopathic preparation of a substance will relieve symptoms similar to the ones caused by the same substance in high doses." Merville also revealed, "Homeopathic medicines are prepared from raw materials (plants, minerals, metals, animal parts, microbiological cultures) that are usually highly diluted, but not always."

Merville thinks consumer perception can be blamed for this misunderstanding. "Homeopathy is perceived as a 'natural' medicine, not just because of the raw materials that make up its active ingredients, but because it seems to stimulate the natural (i.e., physiological) reactions of the organism to heal itself, rather that counter acting or suppressing symptoms."

He also explained that although herbs are unregulated, homeopathic medicines are still drugs and the FDA regulates them as so. "Homeopathic medicines are defined as drugs and regulated as such. They undergo more quality controls than dietary supplements and must be labeled with clear indications."

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There's a lot of buzz these days about using natural and safe products. It's true that using natural beauty products can be part of a healthy lifestyle, but what does it really mean for a product to be natural? We talked to the experts and you may be surprised!

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Definition:Proof by verbosity is the use of red herrings; and a lot of them. It is laying claims on everything using big words that may or may not be true, but obfuscate and confuse the listener. Bulls*it baffles brains as they say!

Connection: This article discusses how the author has not vaccinated her dogs and they are perfectly healthy.

It also discusses how she believes that vaccines are linked to illnesses in dogs. Of course she uses fancy terms and a supposed veterinarian to back her case, but we all know that vaccines are important, not only for humans but also for our canine companions. The modern day, “engineered” if you will, dog is not the same as their ancestor the wolf. Dogs do not have the immune system that a wolf has, and therefore they need the assistance of vaccines for their bodies to be able to combat certain diseases. In her article there is no mention of actual scientific studies done to back her information, only references of old articles.

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Our dogs are in the midst of an epidemic. It's not an epidemic of viral disease, but of chronic ill health. They're besieged with itchy, pus-laden, scabby skin; vomit and diarrhoea are the norm. One in every hundred dogs suffers from epilepsy, and an even higher number lives with painful arthritis. Allergies are also reaching epidemic proportions: dogs are becoming allergic to life.

According to Dr Jean W Dodds, an eminent vet and researcher, both allergic and autoimmune diseases have been rising since the introduction of modified live virus vaccines. Autoimmune diseases are where the body attacks self; they include cancer, leukaemia, thyroid disease, Addisons, Grave's disease, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus, thrombocytopenia, organ failure, skin inflammations, and more.

We also seem to have a tremendous number of dogs with behavioral problems, largely due to over-vaccination and processed pet food. Vaccines are known to cause inflammation of the brain, as well as lesions throughout the brain and central nervous system. The medical term for this is 'encephalitis', and vaccine's role is acknowledged in the Merck Manual. Merck is a vaccine manufacturer.

Years ago, I was the typical 'responsible' dog owner. My four Golden Retrievers were vaccinated every year, and they were fed a 'complete and balanced' pet food, recommended by my vet. The red carpet was metaphorically rolled out once a fortnight, each time I visited with a dog suffering from chronic disease. Eventually the problems became more serious: my dogs started to die years before their time.

Over the years, I've collected research documents to help me make decisions about my dogs' husbandry, and to share what I've learnt with other dog lovers. I also hoped that vets would take notice of the research, and stop over-vaccinating. All medical interventions come with a risk - even the humble aspirin can be deadly. So you have to do a risk/benefit analysis whenever you consider medications. What, then, are the risks of vaccines?

Research by Frick and Brookes shows us that vaccines can trigger atopy (skin allergies). (Am J Vet Res. 1983 Mar;44(3):440-5). Dr Jean W Dodds tells us that retroviral and parvoviral diseases, and vaccines, are associated with lymphoma, leukaemia, organ failure, thyroid disease, adrenal disease, pancreatic disease, and bone marrow failure.

Vaccines cause cancer in cats at their injection site and, according to the Journal of Veterinary Medicine, August 2003, vaccines cause cancer in dogs at their injection sites. Vaccines cause autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (JVM, Vol 10, No. 5, September/ October 1996; Merck Veterinary Manual), andarthritis (BVJ, May 1995 and Am Coll Vet Intern Med, 2000; 14:381). Epilepsy is a symptom of encephalitis, which, as we already know, can be caused by vaccines.

According to Dr Larry Glickman and his team at Purdue University, serum and foreign proteins in vaccines can cause autoimmunity (i.e. cancer, leukaemia, organ failure, etc.). This research also indicates that genetic damage is possible, since vaccinated dogs developed autoantibodies to attack their own DNA. Research from the University of Geneva echoes this finding.

Over the years, many vets, particularly in America, have been saying that they think vaccines cause a diverse range of problems in animals. For example, Christine Chambreau DVM said, 'Routine vaccinations are probably the worst thing we do for our animals. They cause all types of illnesses but not directly to where we would relate them definitely to be caused by the vaccine.' She is not alone in this view.

So imagine my dilemma ten years ago, when Edward and Daniel came into my home. Having already seen my vaccinated dogs suffer with chronic illnesses, and dying from cancer and leukaemia - knowing that vaccines may have caused these illnesses - what was I to do?

I concluded that I would rather risk viral disease with my dogs, than have them suffer from the epidemic of chronic and fatal illness that is gripping the canine population. I appreciate that some will consider me irresponsible. But what actually are we running from when we vaccinate?

OK, so distemper is so rare that most vets haven't seen it in at least ten years. Also, according to the top researchers, and stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association, once immune to viral disease, dogs are immune for years or life. So why are vets and vaccine manufacturers still trying to get us to vaccinate against viral disease every year, or even three-yearly - especially when you consider the risk?

According to the Intervet data sheet, dogs will develop permanent immunity to hepatitis over the age of 12 weeks. So why keep vaccinating against that? Kennel cough is easily treated in most cases, and the vaccine isn't very effective. So what's the point? Leptospirosis is rare (my vet tells me he hasn't seen it in ten years, either), and the vaccine is associated with some of the worst adverse reactions. Isn't this vaccine an unacceptable risk, then? And parvovirus is - according to the Concise Oxford Veterinary Dictionary - rarely a problem for the normal healthy adult dog.

The next question, of course, is how do you get yourself a normal healthy adult dog? Aha - catch 22. In my view, you get a healthy adult dog by not vaccinating at all! Vaccines destabilise the immune system, leading to all sorts of chronic illness. From all I've seen and read, vaccines do not set your dog up for good health. They have the potential to make your dogs itchy, scratchy, vomiting, diarrhoea-filled, sickly, sub-normal shadows of their former selves - ready and waiting for the more serious killers like cancer to arrive. Vaccines represent the perfect recipe for the chronic illness epidemic I've been describing.

Does this mean I've left Edward and Daniel open and unprotected against viral disease? No. When they were puppies they were given the homoeopathic nosode, a safer vaccine alternative. They have also been fed naturally all their lives, providing vital nutrients to boost their immune systems, and they are exercised well (which also boosts the immune system). Have they ever they suffered from recurrent hot spots, allergies, digestive upsets, eye and ear infections, or any other chronic illnesses? No. Did they die of cancer at the age of five, or leukaemia at the age of six, or paralysis at the age of four - as my vaccinated dogs did? No. In fact, they're probably very well equipped, and healthy enough, to withstand the diseases I might otherwise have vaccinated against.

Is probably good enough? Well - it's the best anyone is going to get. Because even vaccines cannot guarantee immunity.

So am I taking the high risk option? I don't think so. It seems to me that good health is a God-given natural right. It's only man who messes it up. The natural order is wiser than any of us, and those of us who don't vaccinate our dogs are proving natural law to be right.

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Our dogs are in the midst of an epidemic. It's not an epidemic of viral disease, but of chronic ill health. They're besieged with itchy, pus-laden, scabby skin; vomit and diarrhoea are the norm. One in every hundred dogs suffers from epilepsy, and an even higher number lives with painful arthritis.

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Definition: Appeal to authority is using authority figures to endorse products. This could be celebrities, institutions, actors/people in white lab coats, or people with PhD's that aren’t in the correct field.

Connection: What does Jennifer Aniston have to do with water? Probably nothing, but a paid endorsement. Smart Water is not stupid, they know that just having her in one of their advertisements is an excellent way to sell their products, especially to the millions of people that have watched and enjoy the show “Friends”.

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Definition: Ancient wisdom is using, products, medicines and other items that people from ancient civilizations used. The problem with this is that people long ago knew much less than we do now, and what they used was probably inferior and practically useless.

Connection: This article discusses how ancient Chinese medicinal practices like acupuncture are not actually useful. Many of the procedures were conjured in pre-scientific eras, when anatomy was still very unknown and superstitions were still taken very seriously. Unfortunately back in those days, people did not have access to the sources we have now, or the education. The article also has some very barbaric examples of how they treated certain ailments back in those days.

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A mythology has grown up around traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM). The ancient wisdom of the inscrutable Orient supposedly helped patients in ways that modern science-based medicine fails to understand or appreciate. A typical claim found on the Internet: "The ancient beliefs and practice of traditional Chinese medicine have been healing people for thousands of years."

As Steven Novella has said, "TCM is a pre-scientific superstitious view of biology and illness, similar to the humoral theory of Galen, or the notions of any pre-scientific culture". TCM really hasn't been doing a creditable job of healing people for thousands of years. A book that was brought to my attention by one of our readers (thank you!) provides a unique insight into what Chinese medicine was really like circa 1900. I wish everyone who believes in ancient Chinese medical wisdom would read the chapter on Chinese medicine in this book. It provides a much-needed reality check.

Dugald Christie was a Scottish surgeon who served as a missionary doctor in northeastern China from 1883 to 1913. He wrote the book Thirty Years in Moukden. 1883-1913. Being the Experiences and Recollections of Dugald Christie, C. M.G. In providing medical care to Chinese patients, he initially met with strong resistance. People were suspicious of foreigners and spread vicious rumors about their evil doings. After he cured the blind with cataract surgery and helped patients the local doctors had failed to help, the community gradually realized he had something to offer that was far superior to what they were used to. Not just patients; people started flocking to his hospital to learn how to do what he did, and he eventually established the Mukden Medical College (still operating today under another name) to train Chinese doctors in Western medicine. During his 30 years in China he had ample opportunity to observe the practice of TCM.

The book is available online for free, but I'll save you the trouble of reading it and describe the illuminating historical account of TCM in its pages. It serves as a reality check to those who believe in acupuncture, in "ancient wisdom," and in the efficacy of non-Western medical practices.

Acupuncture

Chinese doctors own that they know nothing at all of surgery. They cannot tie an artery, amputate a finger or perform the simplest operation. The only mode of treatment in vogue which might be called surgical is acupuncture, practised for all kinds of ailments. The needles are of nine forms, and are frequently used red-hot, and occasionally left in the body for days. Having no practical knowledge of anatomy, the practitioners often pass needles into large blood vessels and important organs, and immediate death has sometimes resulted. A little child was carried to the dispensary presenting a pitiable spectacle. The doctor had told the parents that there was an excess of fire in its body, to let out which he must use cold needles, so he had pierced the abdomen deeply in several places. The poor little sufferer died shortly afterwards. For cholera the needling is in the arms. For some children's diseases, especially convulsions, the needles are inserted under the nails. For eye diseases they are often driven into the back between the shoulders to a depth of several inches. Patients have come to us with large surfaces on their backs sloughing by reason of excessive treatment of this kind with instruments none too clean.

Plasters

A black resinous plaster is applied for pain, aching, bruising, swelling, wounds and sores.

A boy of nine was brought in a basket, and when the plaster completely covering one leg was removed, the smell could almost be heard, as the Chinese say. A large part of the tibia was quite bare and projecting. His mother said that no medicine had been applied except this plaster, which had first been used about fifteen months before, when there was only a small sore place, caused by a fall. He was now much emaciated, with weak rapid pulse and bad cough, and death seemed not far off. We took him into the hospital, treated the leg rationally, and after a few days removed the diseased bone entirely. In a month he was walking about, rosy, strong, and merry, and with great enthusiasm learning to read and sing hymns. Such cases are very common in every hospital.

Manipulation

A little boy twisted his leg while playing. A well-known Chinese doctor violently pulled and twisted his leg. Before the treatment he could walk; after it he couldn't even stand. The Chinese doctor had dislocated his hip, and when Dr. Christie saw him 3 weeks later he was in so much pain that he had to be given chloroform just so he could be examined. Christie then replaced the hip in its socket, and the patient recovered promptly.

Mercury for bullet wounds

He describes removing a piece of bone from a severe gunshot wound, upon which a quantity of pure mercury poured out. The patient said, "That is the melted bullet!" Chinese doctors make no attempt to extract bullets, and they put mercury into the wound saying it will "melt the lead." The patient is easily deceived.

Counter-irritation

The skin is pinched up and twisted repeatedly and sharply between the fingers or knuckles, or with two bits of wood or copper coins, until it becomes livid. Cupping is also a common method. People are constantly seen with round livid patches on the forehead. "What is wrong?" one asks at first in alarm. But the inevitable surprised answer is: "I had a headache, that is all." Blisters of many kinds are also freely used, and the actual cautery.

Vaccination

They had only recently started using vaccination for smallpox. In the past, they "vaccinated" by blowing lymph up the nostril.

Superstitions

Lucky days are chosen for taking medicines. A hair is twined around a limb above a sore to keep the poison from going to the heart. A patient attributed his illness to punishment for having offended the Tiger-god by eating tiger's flesh. A Chinese doctor brought his daughter to the Western doctor, asking him to operate to "remove the evil thing that is preying on her life." He believed a tortoise was growing in her abdomen and drinking her blood three times a day. He thought he could feel the tortoise's head moving; he was actually feeling the pulsations of her aorta. The child didn't have an abdominal problem; she had advanced tuberculosis of the lungs.

Mental illness

Madness, epilepsy and hysteria are regarded as possession by devils. To drive the devils out, patients are forced to stand barefoot on red-hot iron and endure beatings. A girl of 17 with a bad case of hysteria died after a red-hot poker was thrust down her throat to expel the demon.

Doctor-shopping

Patients have little confidence in their doctors. If the medicine doesn't cure them in a few days, they set it aside and consult another doctor without telling the first. It is common to use the medicines of several doctors at once.

Note: This is important to know, because people commonly assume that an herbal treatment that has been used for centuries must be safe and effective because if it wasn't the herbalists would have known by now and would have stopped using it. Patients switched doctors when the treatment wasn't working, without telling the first doctor. So he would assume his treatment had cured the patient and he got no feedback about treatment failures and side effects. These ancient herbalists had no systematic way of evaluating treatment successes vs. failures or of discovering adverse effects.

A plague epidemic

In the winter of 1910-11, an epidemic of what was probably pneumonic plague swept through Manchuria. There were 43,942 cases recorded and 43,942 deaths. I was skeptical of those numbers, but they are also reported elsewhere by historians. 100% mortality; and we think Ebola's bad! That's a good demonstration of how effective TCM was. I would have expected at least a small percentage of patients to have survived without treatment, so this suggests that TCM may have been actively killing some patients.

Conclusion

The book offers a glimpse into history showing how truly ineffective and barbaric TCM really was. This information could go a long way to correct the misconceptions of those who have succumbed to the "ancient wisdom" fallacy. If they read it and paid attention. Which they won't.

Plants often contain chemical compounds that act on the human body, and TCM accidentally came across some herbal remedies that actually work, but scientific testing is required to figure out which ones those are. And regulation of sources is required to prevent contaminants and ensure purification and standardization. TCM may have made a few serendipitous herbal discoveries, but as a system of medical care it has no validity. It is a historical curiosity and an anachronism.

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The Reality of Ancient Wisdom: Acupuncture and TCM Weren't So Great

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A mythology has grown up around traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The ancient wisdom of the inscrutable Orient supposedly helped patients in ways that modern science-based medicine fails to understand or appreciate. A typical claim found on the Internet: "The ancient beliefs and practice of traditional Chinese medicine have been healing people for thousands of years."

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Definition: Mystical energy is energy created and maintained through connection with the divine. It is the energy of the heavens brought down to the earthly realm. When a person prays or meditates, she or he is opening that connection during that moment of prayer or meditation.

Connection: This article talks about how crystals and various other semi-precious gems have now become magical trends in the fashion industry. The “vibratory” powers of crystals are now being used in common fashion items such as handbags, jewelry, and other accessories. Even though some people believe that certain crystals and gems have healing powers, most of that is just hearsay and the reality is that most people admire these stones for their beauty; the mysticism that they could potentially “solve your problems” is just an added bonus if you will. If you believe in crystals and their mystical powers, for every problem, there is a stone solution.

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Wellness is taking over the world. The latest figures from the Global Wellness Institute - a not-for-profit organisation that unpacks where we are at with health, wealth and self - values the industry at $3.7tn (£2.6tn) globally.

On one hand, this is not suprising. The tentacular reach of Goop, alongside a litany of yogas, meditation, supplements and books, have firmly rooted wellness into our everyday routines. But one thing that might surprise you is that the complementary/alternative medicine market alone is now worth almost $200bn.

Crystals are, arguably, one of the breakout stars of this whole business. There has also been a 40% increase in Google searches for "crystal healing" in the past four years, a percentage that generally spikes in January ("new year, new you") and February (a combination of the winter doldrums and Valentine's Day). Got a problem? There's probably a crystal for that.

She's Lost Control is a modish, mystic shop in east London that stockpiles a wide range of crystals, including lemon-coloured citrine, which in certain circles is thought to boost power and attract wealth; City workers allegedly carry it in their suit pockets or sewn into their hems in the hope that it will bring them financial success. Today, in the store - which, owing to its proximity to London's financial district, attracts bankers - the jar is half empty, which suggests the power of citrine is catching across the office blocks.

Regardless of whether crystals work, interest in them has deepened in so-called spiritual circles and among the business elite, but also in Vogue. Jessica Diner, the magazine's beauty director, has them on her bedside table; Naomi Campbell carries black tourmaline and a rose quartz in her handbag; before her shows, Victoria Beckham lines the catwalk with black obsidian in an attempt to ward off negative energy. Adele attributed her hiccups at last year's Grammys to losing her beloved collection. The model Munroe Bergdorf wears crystals in her clothes, following a strict rotation that includes labradorite, fluorite, and selenite - "The ones that really help me in transitional periods and elevate my spirit," she told Vogue. "The whole witchy vibe is what I'm all about."

Crystals fall under the umbrella of mysticism, which is itself an ill-defined catch-all for anything that discusses energy in terms that your gas bill doesn't. In the past year, mysticism has begun to infiltrate the wellness market. Some would include meditation, reiki or yoga; others might mention gong baths or even magic - the latter have both appeared in fashion biannual the Gentlewoman. There's arguably a special place, too, for astrology and horoscopes, which despite their dodgy rep in the print-classifieds section, feature online in Lena Dunham's Lenny and Vice's Broadly sites. Elsewhere, 13th-century Persian Sunni Muslim poet Rumi has become one of the most quoted scholars on Instagram (Cara Delevingne has been a longtime #fan) while others are diving even deeper into the occult, using tarot cards and the like. Crystals remain at the market's beating heart, though, with people adding them to their water, face cream or interiors. Miranda Kerr's Kora Organics beauty products are made from water that has been filtered through rose quartz "to give the vibration of self-love".

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Cottweiler's show at the Earth's Treasury gallery at the London Natural History Museum. Photograph: Courtesy of Cottweiler

In the fashion industry, a mystic aesthetic has been building, piecemeal, over the past 18 months. At Vetements, long-lined coats come embroidered with horoscopes, while hip east-end label Blouse has made hoodies emblazoned with Champagne Mystic and The Vampire's Wife has released hippy goddess T-shirts designed by Karen Constance. Stars are doing a roaring trade: Marks & Spencer's biggest-selling dress for winter came covered in stars, as does a whole line of printed pieces from Topshop. Dilara Findikoglu's entire spring 2018 line came with heavy, occultish overtones, inspired, she said, "by the illusion of the structure of our society". Dior's cruise collection has incorporated the Motherpeace symbol, and constellations in its couture, and even Gucci has a mystic cat-print scarf for men. Cottweiller, a cutting-edge streetwear brand, hosted its last show in the Earth's Treasury Gallery in the London Natural History Museum, a room full of all types of crystals and minerals.

In keeping with the trend is ultraviolet, named the colour of 2018 by Pantone. UV, it says, represents the cosmos, the godly (papal purple), and the princely (um, Prince), and "communicates originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. It's an in-between colour, open to interpretation. And it was on the catwalk at Marni, Martine Rose and Kenzo. In fairness, we could have seen it coming: mysticism also falls under the concept of "chaos magic", a loose and comprehensive idea drummed up by K-Hole (the agency responsible for making normcore happen). Greg Fong, one of its founders, told me in 2015 that it "was about the idea that magic could exist if you could hack your own brain and believe in an alternative".

The appeal of mysticism seems to be that it is in fashion, it looks nice, and translates well on to social media. Crystals certainly carry a certain profundity. The stars, the motherpeace symbols, the rose quartz on Instagram stories, this is quasi-religion for the social media age. There was a time when all this "hippy dippy nonsense" was an alternative. But, as is the case with anything that purports to make our lives better, we democratise it, commodify it and thus it goes mainstream, and is sold online.

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Ultra-violet on the catwalk at (L to R) Marni, Martine Rose and Kenzo. Composite: Rex Features

I grew up in the West Country, where an interest in the occult was not trendy, but pretty normal. Some of my older friends were Wiccan, and they taught me spells involving red ribbons (which we tied around fingers), burning candles and, indeed, "smudging" (burning bundles of herbs to "clear bad energy"). At She's Lost Control, I open-mindedly buy an amethyst (good for cleansing), calcite (good for cleaning bad energy) and rose quartz for love.

In the past six months, business has been booming. Until two years ago, Cheryl Eltringham and Jill Urwin worked in fashion as a jewellery designer and a buyer, respectively. Now they sell crystals, handmade jewellery, sage sticks and clothes in a shop that they periodically clear out to run tarot card readings and gong baths. Most of their customers are women, but bankers aside, men are beginning to drift in. "People come in because they're stressed at work, in love, out of love or in mourning and these things can heal us." I raise an eyebrow. The problem is, they say, "science doesn't trust things it can't measure".

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Rose quartz, calcite and citrine. Photograph: Courtesy of She's Lost Control

Naturally, cynicism is high when it comes to crystals. They are natural conductors of energy. Yet the idea that they do any more than that is merely a placebo, says Tim Caulfield, a research director at the Health Law Institute, who has tried crystal healing. "Crystals don't transmit a healing 'vibratory frequency'," he says. "I can say, without hesitation, that from a scientific perspective this is complete nonsense. Yep, some are attractive. But wearing a crystal isn't going to help align some magical life-force energy." The human desire for what religion can provide - a sense of comfort, community, purpose and the idea of there being something meaningful beyond the self - is still very much with us. We want rituals. We want to believe that someone or something is in control and that we can have some control over our life. Mysticism provides just that.

Clinical psychologist Cinzia Pezzolesi says that while "little scientific evidence exists to substantiate a crystal's effectiveness", and there are no proven medical benefits, "they appeal to people seeking calm in an otherwise chaotic world - for believers, their value may be in fulfilling the spirit, which suits them just fine".

It turns out I'm late to the mystic party. Several of my most cynical friends use them. One held a crystal throughout her IVF treatment. The treatment proved successful and while she wouldn't put it down to the crystals, she is sure they have had some positive effect. Another swears by waving clear quartz over your head if you have a headache (it is supposed to declutter). Another writer diagnosed with clinical depression found herself in a shop drawn to lepidolite, a soft-pink or lilac stone, and keeps it on her desk. She sees it as a distraction, something pretty, but that "sometimes you have to pursue all options, even though we have been made to feel cynical". Whether any of it works is a moot point. As she explains: "When you feel let down, when you don't want to get on a waiting list for CBT, you think, 'Hey, why not?'" They are almost a last-resort therapy, reflective of the era in which they have risen.
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The new stone age - how crystals became a magical style trend

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Wellness is taking over the world. The latest figures from the Global Wellness Institute - a not-for-profit organisation that unpacks where we are at with health, wealth and self - values the industry at $3.7tn (£2.6tn) globally. On one hand, this is not suprising.

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By Larissa Lemere & Kendra Webb