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Conventional vs. "Natural" Medicine: It's All a Conspiracy!
By Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D.
According to Kevin Trudeau, in Natural Cures "They" Don’t Want You to Know About -- which has been America's best-selling advice book for some three months now -- the government, in the guise of the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, is in cahoots with the drug industry and medical establishment to keep Americans sick and dependent on patented pharmaceuticals. Further, pork is poison, we should eat only organic and kosher meat, and tap water'll kill us all and is dangerous whether we drink it or bathe in it.
Trudeau asserts that "medical science has absolutely, 100 percent, failed in the curing and prevention of illness, sickness, and disease" (see p. 9). He supports this startling statement by claiming that, among other "facts," more people:
Get colds and flu than ever before;
Get cancer than ever before;
Have heart disease than ever before;
Have chronic fatigue than ever before;
Have bad skin, acne, and dandruff than ever before.
But Trudeau doesn't mention the more plausible explanations for these supposed facts -- for example, that our life expectancy has increased, so that the incidence of diseases related to aging (such as cancer and heart disease) would be expected to increase as well. Nor does he mention that, according to national statistics, the death rate for most types of cancer has been dropping over the last few decades, due to a combination of better screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Finally, just saying that "more" people suffer from this ill or that doesn't take into account that there are simply more people than ever before -- and that fact alone would mean that one might reasonably expect to find an increase in just about any disease not preventable by vaccination or treatable by antibiotics. Speaking of which, Mr. Trudeau doesn't give any credit to such triumphs of modern medicine. In fact, he claims that anyone who has ever been treated with antibiotics surely has a Candida (yeast) infection -- probably affecting the whole body.
The roots of virtually all illness, he contends, include one or more of the following: too many toxins in the body, nutritional deficiencies, electromagnetic "chaos" exposure, and mental and/or emotional stress. To become healthy, one must deal with whichever of these issues, or whichever combination, is the culprit -- one must "rebalance" the body. In effect, the author says, follow my lead and you will "get your body alkaline" -- whatever that means (see p. 427). To my knowledge, there's no way to test the whole body's acidity or alkalinity, since various body parts have different degrees of acidity -- the stomach is quite acid, the small intestinal contents more neutral, and the blood a slightly alkaline pH (the measure of acidity). The body pH has no real meaning.
The methodologies Trudeau encourages include an encyclopedic list of alternative medical practices -- ranging from high colonic enemas to removal of dental amalgam fillings -- the darlings of alternative medical practitioners.
Mr. Trudeau cites no authoritative sources for any of his statements, which is not to say there are no citations in the book. Indeed, he refers readers to a host of alternative medicine websites, most of which want to sell something [Editor's note: as Trudeau did before turning from selling cures to writing about them]. But then, Trudeau doesn't claim to have evidence that his suggested procedures work (other than testimonials and anecdotal stories). He gets around this little problem by saying that he BELIEVES (yes, in all caps) that those following his advice will get well and not get sick again. So he's not providing any authoritative advice -- he's just expressing his own beliefs. Could this be a way to avoid litigation when disgruntled and harmed readers want to come after him?
In sum, I BELIEVE this book is a great example of slick snake oil salesmanship. First, we're all being misled and lied to by the government and medical establishment. Second, they're withholding the "natural" remedies that could cure all ills. Third, Trudeau altruistically will show us the way (all you have to do is become a member of his website and subscribe to his newsletter).
What is truly amazing is how many folks must believe this stuff. I wonder if they'd be in the market for a bridge or two?
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition for the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
Brenda J. Squires (February 11, 2006)
To Ms. Kava:
Say what you will about Kevin Trudeau, but as the old folks used to say, "The proof is in the pudding." In this case, the proof is in the book. Look at the man. He is lovely. He is pimple and wrinkle-free. Either he has an outstanding make-up person or he is right! His mind moves so fast, sometimes I can't even comprehend all that he is saying. Is this because there are no chemicals in his body or his brain to slow it down? I don't know. You tell me. Sounds like I have stock in the company, right? No I do not. I just see a man with alot of dark, beautiful hair and not a strand of it is gray. Either he dyes it or he is right.
Try all the things he says to do (or as much as you can) and then say bad things about him if they do not work for you. I am going to do as much of what he says as I can. The government, in my state, says I can't get a driver's license unless I go to a doctor who will give me medicine for high blood pressure. I don't want to take a pill everyday for the rest of my life that is a drug.
I am going to try Kevin's methods first.
Jennifer Taylor (March 28, 2006)
Yeah, and look who you work for. I'll go with Naturopathy any day before I pump a bunch of pharmaceuticals in me.
Michael M. (June 20, 2006)
Hey folks,
As a critcally thinking skeptic, I just wanted to add some of my own commentary to the previously made ones. The left aligned comments are the original poster's; each indented section is mine. Enjoy!
On February 11, 2006, Brenda J. Squires wrote:
Say what you will about Kevin Trudeau, but as the old folks used to say, "The proof is in the pudding." In this case, the proof is in the book.
Where, exactly in this book, is this "proof" that you
so fondly speak of? Does he even mention ONE
scientifically proven "cure"
ANYWHERE within the context of his book? Have you
even read it cover to cover? If so, and
if you could kindly point to just ONE cure
(preferably for CANCER, as my friend was
suffering from the testicular kind) please let me
know two things: (1) The page number(s) that it's
on, and (2) The name and contact information of just
ONE idividual who had been successfully CURED of it
STRICTLY by following Mr. Trudeau's advice.
This is NO joke. I am being DEAD serious as my
friend would GREATLY appreciate any and ALL help.
My friend has many constant follow-up visits with the
oncologist, and he would REALLY much rather not go
through all of that if he really doesn't have to.
Look at the man. He is lovely. He is pimple and wrinkle-free. Either he has an outstanding make-up person or he is right!
Or perhaps he's just blessed with some damn fine
genetics REGARDLESS of his lifestyle, ever think
about that? Why is it that someone like Dana Reeves
(the late Christopher Reeve's widow), a beautifully
gorgeous, vibrant lady who NEVER touched a single
cigarette in her life dies of lung cancer at the
young age of only 44, while someone like George
Burns, who smoked nearly every day of most of his
adult life, lives to a ripe old age of 100?
Didn't Mr. Trudeau CLEARLY state in his book that
"cigarettes and tobacco cause cancer?"
And another thing: Realistically speaking, who
wouldn't want to polish him or herself up with a
little make up right BEFORE going on national
television? Ask yourself: Would YOU
want to look like complete crap on YOUR infomercial?
His mind moves so fast, sometimes I can't even comprehend all that he is saying. Is this because there are no chemicals in his body or his brain to slow it down?
Interesting you say that. His speaking style
somewhat reminds me of John Edwards' when he
does cold readings. Most of the time he speaks
so rapidly, that one would seemingly PERCEIVE him as
possessing a "genuine talent." But upon a further,
more critical examination of his readings, you would
clearly see that he's doing nothing more that
uttering absolutely irrelevant and extraneous
information as a way to "fluff-up" his presenta-
tion, making him appear more carismatic, smart,
friendly and "on-target," when in fact, he's
accomplishing nothing more than playing music to
his audience's ears.
It's called SHOWMANSHIP, plain and simple. And just
because he looks and dresses nice, and is a wonderful,
charismatic, smooth-talking salesman, none of these
"finer" qualites do absolutely ANYTHING to make him
a ligitimate, eminently qualified medical physician
fully capable of properly and responsibly treating
your medical condition.
I don't know. You tell me. Sounds like I have stock in the company, right? No I do not. I just see a man with alot of dark, beautiful hair and not a strand of it is gray. Either he dyes it or he is right.
You seem to have quite a liking for the man. Did you
know that, according to him, we shouldn't wear
deoderant or use any soaps or shampoos because they ALL
have "secret ingredients not listed on the
ingredients" that cause cancer???
Brenda, let me seriously ask you: Do guys who not
take showers or wear any deoderant REALLY turn you on?
If so, I WANT TO MARRY YOU!!! Or at least go out on
a few dates, PLEASE!!! You'd make my whole dating
experience a heck of a lot less stressful by not
having to do those "cancer-causing" activities!!!
Try all the things he says to do (or as much as you can) and then say bad things about him if they do not work for you.
Before I do any of that, allow me to challenge YOU
to watch the following ABC 20/20 video clip about
a man who gave up his prescription medications for
seizures in favor of Mr. Truduea's fallacious
advice, only to suffer one of the WORST seizures he
had every experienced:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1527049
I am going to do as much of what he says as I can. The government, in my state, says I can't get a driver's license unless I go to a doctor who will give me medicine for high blood pressure.
So you're saying that you wouldn't mind getting into
a head-on collision with someone who had lost control
of his or her vehicle due to a heart attack?
I don't want to take a pill everyday for the rest of my life that is a drug.
Then you ALWAYS have the option of letting your
medical condition get the very best of you.
Personally, I'd rather jump off a bridge than to do
ANY of the utterly proposterous things that Mr.
Truduea recommends in his book...it would seem like
a LOT more fun, and more quick and painless of
PERMANENTLY curing whatever ailment I may have, but
then again, that's just me...
I am going to try Kevin's methods first.
All joking aside, I strongly suggest some critical
thinking, research, logic, reason and good old fashion
common sense first BEFORE doing something dangerous
to your health. Please, for the sake your health,
sanity and well-being, I humbly implore you to
carefully examine the following weblinks, and then
genuinely ask yourself if you would STILL want t
trust this guy:
http://www.skepdic.com/trudeau.html
http://www.infomercialwatch.org/tran/trudeau.shtml
http://www.quackwatch.org/
On March 28, 2006, Jennifer Taylor wrote:
Yeah, and look who you work for. I'll go with Naturopathy any day before I pump a bunch of pharmaceuticals in me.
Try telling that to my friend who was successfully
treated and nearly cured of his testicular cancer
thanks to the wonders of modern medicine,
pharmacalogy, and chemotherapy.
Going the holistic route for personal beauty and
aesthetics is one thing. But when you're diagnosed
with a major BIG TIME illness or disease that
becomes LIFE THREATENING as my frined had to go
through, the you can't afford to gamble with such
dubious claims. You've got to do what's
scientifically PROVEN and TESTED to WORK, plain and
simple.
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