Teaching science with Sensing Murder put to the test Night terrors Coconut oil for Alzheimer’s? Amber teething beads revisited

number 104 – winter 2012 content editorial

Using pseudoscience to teach science 3 The murder that never Sensing Murder: overtaken by events 6 was – Part 2 Newsfront 10 Things that visit by EORGE Gwaze was first cleared of the murder of his adopted night 12 Gdaughter Charlene Makaza on 21 May 2008. At the time I wrote Forum 13 in NZ Skeptic 88’s Newsfront that it had taken since the first week of 2007 for him to be acquitted of a non-existent crime: Charlene had Could coconut oil be an option for treating died from a massive Aids-related infection. Little did I realise the Alzheimer’s? 16 Crown would retry the case – the only time a Not Guilty verdict has been overturned in a New Zealand court – and Gwaze would have Amber teething beads to face another four years to clear his name. revisited 17

From the vaults 19 It may seem a strange case to attract the interest of the NZ Skeptics, apart from the fact that one of our members, Dr Felicity Goodyear- Smith, acted as a medical adviser for the defence in the first trial, but it could be seen as a late manifestation of the sexual abuse panic which swept the western world in the 1980s and 1990s. This had its origins in a book titled Michelle Remembers, which recounted ISSN - 1172-062X memories of satanic ritual abuse recovered under hypnosis from a young woman, Michelle Smith, by her therapist (later husband) Contributions Lawrence Pazder. Though skeptics at the time were quick to note Contributions are welcome and that these ‘recovered memories’ had similarities with those reported should be sent to: by Budd Hopkins, who used hypnosis to uncover ‘memories’ of alien David Riddell abduction, or various proponents of who used similar 122 Woodlands Rd techniques, there was a rash of satanic ritual abuse cases arising out RD1 Hamilton of hypnotherapy sessions over the next few years. Email: [email protected] In time, the satanic element faded, but the panic only became the Deadline for next issue: more destructive because of that, with many people ‘recovering’ September 10 2011 memories of more mundane forms of sexual abuse, often by their Letters for the Forum may be edited parents. Families were torn apart; the damage continues to this day. as space requires - up to 250 words In a parallel development, testimony of sexual abuse (often ritual is preferred. Please indicate the in nature) was elicited from pre-school children at day-care centres publication and date of all clippings and kindergartens by suspect interviewing techniques. for the Newsfront. In most of the world the day-care sexual abuse panic has been Material supplied by email or CD is appreciated. recognised for what it was, and those who fell victim to it have mostly received large compensation packages. Not so in New Permission is given to other non- Zealand, where Peter Ellis is still on record as a convicted child profit skeptical organisations to abuser, after spending seven years in prison for alleged offences at reprint material from this publication provided the author and NZ Skeptic the Civic Creche in Christchurch – the same city where the Gwaze are acknowledged. family lives. Sexual abuse of children is a terrible crime and, per- haps understandably, when the prospect is raised rationality tends Opinions expressed in the New Zealand Skeptic are those of the to fly out the window; other scenarios often don’t get a look in. The individual authors and do not George Gwaze case – and the ongoing injustice suffered by Peter necessarily represent the views of Ellis – shows that even (or perhaps especially) on this most emo- NZ Skeptics (Inc.) or its officers. tional of issues, it’s necessary to keep a cool head, and to consider Subscription details are available all possibilities. from www.skeptics.org.nz or PO Box 30-501, Lower Hutt 5040. number 104 – winter 2012 main feature Using pseudoscience to teach science

Alison Campbell

There may indeed be a place for creationism in the science classroom, but not the way the creationists want. This article is based on a presentation to the 2011 NZ Skeptics Conference.

E LIVE in a time when debating with others – in order A related concept here is that Wscience features large in to develop scientific knowledge, there’s a hierarchy of journals, our lives, probably more so understanding and explanations with publications like Science at than ever before. It’s important (ibid., p28). the top and Medical Hypotheses that people have at least some In other words, studying sci- at the other end of the spectrum. understanding of how science ence also involves learning about Papers submitted to Science are works, not least so that they can the nature of science: that it’s a subject to stringent peer review make informed decisions when process as much as, or more than, processes – and many don’t aspects of science impinge on a set of facts. Pseudoscience make the grade – while Medi- them. Yet this is also a time offers a lens through which to cal Hypotheses seems to accept when pseudoscience seem to be approach this. submissions uncritically, with on the increase. Some would minimal review, for example a argue that we simply ignore it. Thus, students should be being paper suggesting that drinking I suggest that we put it to good encouraged to think about how cows’ milk would raise odds of use and use pseudoscience to valid, and how reliable, par- breast cancer due to hormone help teach about the nature of ticular statements may be. They levels in milk – despite the fact science – something that Jane should learn about the process of that the actual data on hormone Young has done in her excellent peer review: whether a particular titres didn’t support this. book The Uncertainty of it All: claim has been presented for peer Understanding the Nature of review; who reviewed it; where This should help our students Science. it was published. There’s a big develop the sort of critical think- difference between information ing skills that they need to make The New Zealand Curriculum that’s been tested and reviewed, sense of the cornucopia of infor- (MoE, 2007) makes it clear that and information (or misinfor- mation that is the internet. View- there’s more to studying science mation) that simply represents ing a particular site, they should than simply accumulating facts: a particular point of view and be able to ask – and answer! – questions about the source of Science is a way of investigating, is promoted via the popular the information they’re finding, understanding, and explaining press. Think ‘cold fusion’, the our natural, physical world and claim that nuclear fusion could whether or not it’s been subject the wider universe. It involves be achieved in the lab at room to peer review (you could argue generating and testing ideas, temperatures. It was trumpeted that the internet is an excellent gathering evidence – including to the world by press release, ‘venue’ for peer review but all by making observations, carry- but subsequently debunked as too often it’s simply self-ref- ing out investigations and mod- other researchers tried, and erential), how it fits into our eling, and communicating and failed, to duplicate its findings. existing scientific knowledge,

page  education and whether we need to know comparisons – nonetheless, the familiar with the concept of a anything else about the data or authors describe the differences fair test, so they’ll probably rec- its source. in growth as ‘significant’. ognise fairly quickly that such a test was not performed in this An excellent example that Their conclusion? Antibiotic case: the researchers were not could lead to discussion around resistance did not enhance the comparing apples with apples. both evolution and experimental fitness of Serratia marcescens: When one strain of the test or- design, in addition to the nature ... wild-type [S.marcescens] has ganism is lab-bred and not only of science, is the on-line article a significant fitness advantage antibiotic-resistant but forms Darwin at the drugstore: testing over the mutant strains due to different-coloured colonies from the biological fitness of antibi- its growth rate and colony size. the pond-dwelling wild-type, otic-resistant bacteria (Gillen & Therefore, it can be argued that there are a lot of different vari- Anderson, 2008). The research- ampicillin resistance mutations ables in play, not just the one ers wished to test the concept that reduce the growth rate and there- whose effects are supposedly fore the general biological fitness a mutation conferring antibiotic being examined. resistance rendered the bacte- ria possessing it less ‘fit’ than In addition, and more tellingly, those lacking it. (There is the experiment did not test the an energy cost to bacteria fitness of the antibiotic-resist- in producing any protein, ance gene in the environment but whether this renders where it might convey an them less fit – in the advantage. The two Ser- Darwinian sense – is ratia marcescens strains entirely dependent were not grown in media on context.) containing ampicillin! Evolutionary biology The researchers actually predicts that the used two popula- resistant strain would be tions of the bacterium at a disadvantage in mini- Serratia marcescens: mal media, because it’s an ampicillin-resistant using energy to express a lab-grown strain, which gene that provides no ben- produces white colonies, efit in that environment, and a pink, non-resistant so will likely be short of (‘wild-type’) population Serratia marcescens is a common bacterium of damp energy for other cellular obtained from pond wa- environments, responsible for the pink growths sometimes seen in bathrooms. Antibiotic-resistant processes. (And, as I com- ter. ‘Fitness’ was de- mented earlier, the data do fined as “growth rate and strains in hospitals have been implicated in several human ailments. not show any significant colony ‘robustness’ in differences between the minimal media”. After 12 hours’ of S.marcescens. This study two bacterial strains.) incubation the two populations concurs with Anderson (2005) showed no difference in growth that while mutations providing What about the authors’ af- on normal lab media (though antibiotic resistance may be filiations, and where was the there were differences between beneficial in certain, specific, paper published? Both authors four and six hours), but the environments, they often come work at Liberty University, a pri- wild-type strain did better on at the expense of pre-existing vate faith-based institution with function, and thus do not provide minimal media. It is hard to strong creationist leanings. And a mechanism for macroevolution judge whether the difference was (Gillen & Anderson, 2008). the article is an on-line publica- of any statistical significance tion in the ‘Answers in Depth’ as the paper’s graphs lack er- Let’s take the opportunity to section of the website of An- ror bars and there are no tables apply some critical thinking to swers in Genesis (a young-earth showing the results of statistical this paper. Students will all be creationist organisation) – not in number 104 – winter 2012 education a mainstream peer-reviewed sci- almost in the same breath. It’s are looking at coincidences. For ence journal. This does suggest easy to pull together a list of example, a child may develop that a priori assumptions may names, with PhD or MD after a fever a day after receiving a have coloured the experimental them, to support an argument (eg vaccination. But without know- design. palaeontologist Vera Scheiber ing how many non-vaccinated on vaccines). Students could children also developed a fever Other clues on that particular day, it’s not actually possible to say that It may also help for students There are not always to learn about other ways to there’s a causal link between recognise ‘bogus’ science, two equal sides to every the two. argument, notwithstanding something I’ve blogged about A question of balance previously (see Bioblog – sev- the catch cry of “teach the en signs of bogus science). controversy!” Another important message One clue is where information for students is that there are is presented via the popular not always two equal sides to media (where ‘popular media’ be given such a list and encour- every argument, notwithstanding includes websites), rather than aged to ask, what is the field of the catch cry of “teach the con- offered up for peer review, and expertise of these ‘experts’? For troversy!” This is an area where students should be asking, why example, a mailing to New Zea- the media, with their tendency is this happening? land schools by a group called to allot equal time to each side “Scientists Anonymous” offered for the sake of ‘fairness’, are not The presence of conspiracy an article purporting to support helping. Balance is all very well, theories is another warning sign. ‘intelligent design’ rather than but not without due cause. Were the twin towers brought an evolutionary explanation for down by terrorists, or by the US a feature of neuroanatomy, au- So, apply scientific thinking government itself? Is the US thored by a Dr Jerry Bergman. – say, to claims for the health government deliberately sup- However, a quick search indi- benefits of sodium bicarbonate pressing knowledge of a cure cates that Dr Bergman has made as a cure for that fungal-based for cancer? Is vaccination really no recent contributions to the cancer (www.curenaturalicancro. for the good of our health or the scientific literature in this field, com). Its purveyors make quite result of a conspiracy between but has published a number of specific claims concerning health government and ‘big pharma’ articles with a creationist slant, and well-being – drinking sodi- to make us all sick so that phar- so he cannot really be regarded um bicarbonate will cure cancer maceutical companies can make as an expert authority in this par- and other ailments by “alkaliz- more money selling products to ticular area. Similarly, it is well ing” your tissues, thus counter- help us get better? worth reviewing the credentials ing the effects of excess acidity! How would you test those claims “My final conclusion after 40 of many anti-vaccination ‘ex- of efficacy? What are themecha - years or more in this business perts’ – the fact that someone is that the unofficial policy of has a PhD by itself is irrelevant; nisms by which drinking sodium the World Health Organisation the discipline in which that de- bicarbonate (or for some reason and the unofficial policy of Save gree was gained, is important. lemon juice!) – or indeed any the Children’s Fund and almost (Observant students may also other alternative health product all those organisations is one of wonder why the originators of – is supposed to have its effects? murder and genocide. They want the mailout feel it necessary to (Claims that a ‘remedy’ works to make it appear as if they are remain anonymous…) through mechanisms as yet un- saving these kids, but in actual known to science don’t address fact they don’t.” (Dr A. Ka- Students also need to know this question, but in addition, lokerinos, quoted on a range of the difference between anecdote they presuppose that it does actu- anti-vaccination websites.) and data. Humans are pattern- ally work.) In the new Academic Conspiracy theorists will often seeking animals and we do have Standards there’s a standard on use the argument from authority, a tendency to see non-existent homeostasis, so students could correlations where in fact we look at the mechanisms by which

page  education the body maintains a steady state ern world presents, regardless Young, J. (2010): The uncertainty of in regard to pH. of whether they go on to further it all: understanding the nature of sci- ence. Triple Helix Resources Ltd. study in the sciences. 10:23 Campaign (2011): www.1023. If students can learn to apply org.uk these tools to questions of sci- References Gillen, A.G. & Anderson, S. (2008): Alison Campbell is Associate Dean ence and pseudoscience, they’ll www.answersingenesis.org/articles/aid/ (Teaching and Learning) and a be well equipped to find their v2/n1/Darwin-at-drugstore Senior Lecturer in the Biological way through the maze of con- Ministry of Education (2007): The New Zealand Curriculum. nzcurriculum. Sciences Dept at the University of flicting information that the mod- tki.org.nz/Curriculum-documents/The- Waikato. New-Zealand-Curriculum

tv Sensing Murder: overtaken by events

David Riddell Transcript by Annette Taylor

The discovery of a long-missing body offers a rare chance to put the stars of Sensing Murder to the test.

N SATURDAY 19 May attempted to contact Jane’s dressed accordingly, was aca- O2012 the remains of Auck- spirit and uncover fresh evidence demically bright but had trouble land teenager Jane Furlong were about the case. They made spe- at school. Webber even got the found in sand dunes at Port cific and falsifiable claims about name ‘Jayne’, after having the Waikato’s Sunset Beach. where the body was hidden; name handed to her on a piece the discovery of Jane’s remains of paper, face down – we are Jane was only 17 went she provides a rare opportunity to told that Jane changed the spell- went missing while working assess the information this pair ing in her teens. (One has to as a prostitute on Karangahape came up with. ask whether the name was writ- Rd in central Auckland, on the ten in Webber’s presence: stage night of 26 May 1993. While the The programme’s narrator, mentalists are able to interpret discovery gives her friends and New Zealand-born Australian writing or drawing by watching family a chance to say farewell, actress Rebecca Gibney, tells the movements of the top of the mystery still surrounds her disap- us Webber and Cruickshank pen, a technique known as pencil pearance, and her killer remains were both filmed non-stop for reading.) at large. a day, kept separate and under constant supervision. The only Cruickshank gets that she had The Jane Furlong case was information they were provided two siblings, that there was a the subject of the sixth episode with was a photo of Jane, which Judy in the family (her mother’s of the second season of the both claimed they didn’t look name was Judith), and that she television programme Sensing at until they had come up with had a 19-year-old boyfriend, Murder, which screened in New (very accurate) physical descrip- correctly described by Webber Zealand on 9 October 2007. On tions, including age (though as rough-looking with tattoos. the programme, two ‘psychics’, both picked her as 16), ethnicity, Later, both lead the camera Australian Deb Webber and New even hairstyle. Both picked that crew (independently on sepa- Zealander Kelvin Cruickshank, she worked as a prostitute and rate nights) to the precise point number 104 – winter 2012 tv psychics on Karangahape Rd where Jane because all of this information from where you were killed? She plied her trade. could have been obtained by shook her head … So … So the non-psychic means. possibility at the time of her pass- On the face of it, this is amaz- ing there may have been a build- ing. If we have been given a fair However Cruickshank and ing in dis… mount, which means representation of events there Webber go on to give details being broken down and replaced would seem little doubt that about where Jane’s body was ’cause things have changed since these two have genuine psychic hidden. In 2007 nobody knew that sort of scenario … the sur- roundings have all changed and

Auckland Domain, where Deb Webber said Jane ... and Waikato Heads, where Jane’s body was Furlong’s body had been hidden... eventually found.

so I can’t make out whether I’m ability. But there are other pos- where that was, but now we do. in or out. sibilities. One is that Webber and So let’s look at a transcription Cruickshank have been provided of the bits of the show relating [DW and KC say Jane is still with all the information from to that and see how well they missing.] the start. Another is that Web- did. ‘KC’ is Kelvin Cruickshank, RG: Both psychics have picked ber and Cruickshank are filmed ‘RG’ is Rebecca Gibney, and up that Jane’s body is missing. for a combined total of perhaps ‘DW’ is Deb Webber. Quotes Deb is given a map of Auckland 16 hours, of which less than 30 are complete; three dots denote and asked to identify areas that minutes ends up on the screen, a pause, not an ellipsis. are significant to the case. so there is plenty of opportunity KC: Just wanted to say dump or DW: She’s saying to me you for selective editing. Both are dumped. How are you covered? don’t get much work out of the skilled cold readers (I have at- She’s saying to me I’m so cov- city. Where are you working? tended one of Cruickshank’s ered up it’s not funny. She says Yeah work? That’s what I’m shows and can at- they did a jolly good job of cov- looking for. test to his ability), and we are ering me up. Lots of dirt, lots of RG: Deb is indicating the area told by Gibney that “only correct puddles, lots of water, I can hear where Jane worked. statements are confirmed during dripping, I can hear hammers, the readings”. So they are given even jack hammers, the concrete DW: Do you go over a bridge or feedback on how they’re doing, … jrr jrr jrr jrr. You know the… something to get to her? ’Cause and over the course of the day’s the sound of building. she keeps taking me something over a bridge. Something’s hap- filming are able to home in on [DW gives unverified details correct details. pening around in this area, I don’t about the murderer.] know what it is though. But could they really be psy- KC: Church, cemetery, where RG: Deb is pointing at the Auck- chic? On the evidence from you taking me girlfriend? I feel land Domain, a large park area this early part of the show it’s a like she’s hidden. She said, I near the central city. possibility but we can’t be sure, just asked her were you moved

page  tv psychics

DW: Still again, it’s like part of DW: I think this is where she was DW: Oh, this is a bit … She’s her doesn’t want to be found. last seen. And she keeps showing definitely been in here before. me the image of the car, coming She’s been in here. No, I think KW: She’s not outside of the city, in. It’s taken off, it’s turning a few times but she’s definitely she’s inside the city, she’s making around, and headed back down been in here with him. It’s really reference to a park... She’s giving out that way. weird, I don’t think she came out me the images of the hospital and the other side of it. then the museum and then she RG: Deb is pointing in the direc- brings me back over to the uni- tion of the Auckland Domain. RG: Just when it seems Deb is versity. Little bit of a triangle. about to make a breakthrough, [DW says Jane knew some- Jane closes down on her. RG: Kelvin is also given a map. thing was not right, KC continues to explore Karangahape Rd.] DW: Getting all that stuff I got KC: There’s the university, Do- at the beginning, about the anger main, the hospital, where’s that? RG: Meanwhile Deb asks Jane’s and the bitterness. You know, Right here … so … if we put spirit to show her where she was no one really cares if she gets two and two together like, there’s killed. She directs the crew to found or not, she feels. She’s not the triangle of the university drive over the Grafton Bridge. connecting with her body, she like that, it sort of looks like this doesn’t care. Show me, go show DW: She was on this road. I [makes a triangle with hands me Jayne. It’s like, the only thing keep asking her when did he get over the map]. I keep getting is that she’s lost, so violent with you and she said he until her soul’s ready to acknowl- RG: Significantly at the center of was creepy anyway, right from edge it, it’s lost. Shock does that Kelvin’s triangle lies the Auck- the beginning. But it’s when they to a soul. Well, I can certainly land Domain. The same park area got down the road a bit, that’s say this, it’s not a very pleasant identified by Deb. when he started. place to be at night, in here. Too KW: Honestly, I’m going to say RG: Kelvin has reached the old much goes on in here. this to you again, ’cause she’s Symonds St cemetery. talking about it being right under- RG: At the cemetery Jane is shut- neath the noses of where she was KC: Why have you brought ting down on Kelvin too. me here girl? Definitely been last seen, it’s not far from there. KC: I’m getting close to a lot pulled here, I don’t know why. She keeps saying I was not re- of people man, but this one I’m I’ve brought these with me just moved from the city. So wherever struggling with. She’s very very in case, try and link in with her that area is, we’d probably need hard to get that door open. She [Holds up bracelets(?)]. to locate it. Have a scout around comes in, she gives me a little bit, with it, try and work with her a DW: Left. and she disappears, she comes little bit more. in and gives me a little bit more RG: Deb heads into the Auckland [DW and KC on separate and disappears, and that’s been Domain, the area both she and paramount as you’ve been watch- evenings go to Jane’s “patch” Kelvin identified on the map as ing it all night. Didn’t have much on Karangahape Rd.] being significant to the case. in life and everything I did have was taken from me. What does

by Nick Kim

number 104 – winter 2012 tv psychics

it matter where I am. What does could be hidden in the domain this material. Much of it was anyone care? and remain undetected for 14 contradictory, though the show years. The Auckland Domain glosses over this – Cruickshank Next, we are introduced to covers 75 ha of land, some of it indicated a motorcycle gang and Duncan Holland of Corporate rough and inaccessible terrain “payback” being involved (Jane Risks, an investigation and se- and bush. In 1995 the body of was due to testify in an assault curity consultancy, who is de- murdered vagrant Betty Maru- case involving a gang), while scribed as a former detective sich was found in dense bush Webber gave details about a leading a team of investigators. in the Auckland Domain; no at- balding businessman with an He is solid-looking, authorita- tempt was made to cover or bury accent. tive, and speaks of the police and her yet it still took two weeks for her body to be found. “we” in close conjunction. Many Was there collusion between viewers would probably get Webber and Cruickshank for the impression he is a police- “She’s not outside of the them both to pick locations man. Below are excerpts of city, she’s inside the city, that were so close together? his concluding commentary. she’s making reference to a Not necessarily. Both had Ellipses in this transcript indi- park...” somehow deduced she was cate segments not relevant to a Karangahape Rd prostitute the body’s location, or where (most likely by clips of DW and KC had been Kelvin presented another inter- their interviewers; we can now inserted for dramatic or illustra- esting scenario. ... During our in- be fairly sure neither has any tive purposes. vestigations we were approached psychic ability), and the likeli- Both psychics identified the by an anonymous source who est place for the body to be hid- Auckland Domain as being told us that Jane’s body had den would be the closest piece significant. ... To get to the been buried in concrete. Police of rough ground – the Grafton Auckland Domain from K Road confirmed they had investigated Gully/Auckland Domain area. where Jane worked the car would this theory but were unable to have driven past the Symonds find any evidence. New Zealand In any case, Jane’s remains St cemetery and the Grafton police deal in factual evidence were more than 80 km away, Bridge. ... Psychic Deb Webber but are open to all sources of at Port Waikato. The pattern is led the crew to the Auckland information. The psychics have clear: Webber and Cruickshank Domain, the same area she and revealed potential lines of inquiry can come up with amazingly Kelvin identified on the map. ... which we believe warrant further accurate information if that in- investigation in the hunt for Jane The Auckland Domain, which formation is already known Furlong’s body and her killer. is less than five minutes drive and if they are provided with from K Road has always been a So there you have it. Both feedback, although we have no popular spot for sex workers to Webber and Cruickshank identify way of knowing how many of take clients; it is also one of the the same general area as the loca- their misses were edited from most dangerous spots. Numerous rapes and attacks on prostitutes tion of Jane’s remains, but then the many hours of filmed foot- have taken place in the domain. Jane inconveniently (or perhaps age. But when new information The New Zealand Prostitutes col- not) shuts down on them. Note that was not previously available lective warns sex workers not to that Cruickshank actually gives comes to light, their pronounce- travel too far out of the city with two alternatives: the Symonds ments can be seen for the fanta- clients. ... St cemetery and a construction sies they are. site, location unspecified. Inter- It is quite likely Jane went with David Riddell and Annette Taylor her killer to the Auckland Do- estingly Holland says there had are editor and former editor of the main, she may have been mur- been a tip-off that Jane had been NZ Skeptic. dered and possibly even buried buried in concrete. there. ... Cruickshank and Webber also If the psychics are correct and had plenty to say about the killer, Jane’s body was well covered, though as the crime remains un- it is quite feasible that her body solved it’s impossible to assess

page  newsfront Compiled by David Riddell How to raise a psychic child

LL children are psychic, “It’s when children go through “Renting out rooms to unreg- A according to one of the this phase that they start to fear istered psychics must be stamped stranger items to appear in the NZ death and fear separation from out. There are so many so-called Herald (30 May) for a while. a parent ... they start to focus psychics robbing the public. He more on being logical and ana- is doing a great injustice to the Sue Bishop is described by lytical. They start to doubt their unsung heroes and healers that writer (I hesitate to say journal- intuition, they shut that part of have made this country.” ist) Nicky Park in the paper’s themselves off.” Life & Style section as “one of Woodcock charges $60 to Australia’s top intuitives” – a But don’t worry, the Herald $70 an hour for medicine card phrase Bishop herself uses in has some useful tips to help you readings, as well as charging for her promotional material. She prevent your child from becom- teaching groups, and takes dona- says children are tuned in to their ing logical and analytical. You tions for ghost and spirit house abilities more than ever, but par- must recognise you and your cleansing. He admits there is ents need to know how to nurture child have a sixth sense, and set a big argument about shamans their kids’ skills without discour- safe boundaries for using these receiving money. “People fall aging or being too pushy. abilities. But don’t indulge them in love with understanding liv- too much: “Some kids will go ing holistically, but forget that Bishop, who is currently pro- too far and let their imagination in order for me to practise as a moting her recent book Psychic take over.” shaman, I have to get petrol, have Kids, says we’re starting to see a mortgage to pay. little kids who can see spirits, and actually validate who it is. “It’s “My tepee is bigger than what different to a child saying, ‘I’ve ‘Medicine man’ offside I used to have. I don’t really got a monster on top of my bed’ A self-styled Woodville ‘med- want to go and live in the bush. [how, exactly?]. We know that’s icine man’ has found himself People give us a gift of dollars imagination.” offside – with the country’s other instead of a leg of elk or deer- skin. If [the] creator wants you The “level of awareness” kids medicine men (Dominion Post, 18 June). to do something, you have to be have today is different to the kids alive to do it.” of the 80s, she says, partly be- Karys Woodcock, a 65-year- cause the topic is less taboo now old part-time actor raised in so children are free to explore England, says he is entitled to Animals vie for psychic fame their psychic abilities. Then be a shaman because his father there’s “soul evolution”. had Crow Indian heritage. He Remember Paul the psychic “I believe that each evolution is legally changing his name to octopus? The late lamented carnates to bring a new gift, a Laughing Bear, and says he has mollusc who correctly picked new awareness to help us grow attracted a strong following for the outcomes of all seven of and expand also to deal with his ‘medicine readings’ and other Germany’s matches plus the final the problems created from the services. He charges for those in the 2010 Football World Cup former generation.” services, but according to Joseph now has plenty of competition O’Connor, 81, genuine shamans (Stuff, 8 June). But at the age of seven the soft don’t charge. part of the skull fully closes (this None have the form of the is in the NZ Herald, remember, O’Connor says he is a third- eight-legged marvel, however, so it must be true), and the age generation psychic and shaman, says Joe Crilly, a spokesman for of reason begins. while “Laughing Bear” is an ac- British bookmaker William Hill. tor living in a world of fantasy. “And with so many to follow, number 104 – winter 2012 NZ Skeptics Conference Registration 2012 Fri 31 August - Sun 2 September Otago University, Dunedin Save 1 80,000th of a tree - Online reservations: http://skeptics.org.nz

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Email: ______This page is intentionally left blank so you can cut out the form and send it in TKIJV"CYC[# newsfront there are undoubtedly going to who was living his beliefs and huge number of possible expla- be a few who get it wrong.” being obedient.” nations for UFO sightings – and none of them involved visits Citta, a 33-year-old female “A common misunderstanding from extraterrestrials. Indian elephant at Krakow Zoo, is that handlers believe they can’t was given the gig for the 2012 get bit or it won’t kill them,” Euro Cup after correctly picking Hood added. “What they’ll tell Chelsea would win the Champi- you is, ‘No one will get out of Ghost haunts university ons League final, heading off a this alive.’ They’ll also tell you Residents at Otago Universi- donkey, a parrot, and another el- it’s not a question of how you ty’s Cumberland College have ephant. But her first two predic- live; it’s a question of how you taken to sleeping with the lights tions of Polish victories – made die ... This is how he would have on following a sighting of a ghost by choosing a marked melon wanted to die.” (Otago Daily Times, 22 May). – have been astray, with both matches drawn. Although most Appalachian The ghost has been linked to states have outlawed snake han- the Grey Lady, who allegedly Meanwhile a “psychic pig” dling, it remains legal but rare in haunted a nurse at the college in the Ukraine predicted four West Virginia. after the nurse, working at the of six results in the first round now-closed Queen Mary ma- correctly. Other contenders ternity hospital nearby, took her are a ferret called Fred, Kharuk UFOs buzz Northland ... or baby for being an unfit mother. the Russian reindeer, Sissi the not German dachshund, Nicholas College resident Mareck the English llama and Huat the Ufocus NZ are claiming many Church said the “ghost sighting” Singaporean arowana – that’s a sightings of UFOs in the North- happened on the night of Satur- large freshwater fish. Informa- land region in recent months, but day, 5 May, when two female tion is limited on how well any of none has been reported to the po- health science students noticed a these are doing, which probably lice, a police spokeswoman says weird smell and a chill in the air says something in itself. (Northern Advocate, 23 May). as they walked down the hallway after coming back to the college Suzanne Hansen, who is re- from studying. Weird smells search network director for the Snake test of faith fatal in a hall of residence? Cold in UFO-watching group, said one Dunedin? Definitely something A West Virginia preacher who man had reported seeing a UFO odd here. handled venomous snakes to land in Northland in April, but prove his faith in God has died she was not revealing where at “One of the girls saw a black after being bitten (NZ Herald, 1 this stage. “He’s a very credible figure beside the fire hydrant, June). source. He saw an object that had turned to the other girl to point landed and said it was definitely it out and as they both turned Mark Wolford’s own father not an aircraft or like anything round, they felt a cold whoosh of died of a snakebite in 1983 aged else he had seen.” air pass them,” Mr Church said. 39, and he himself had been bit- ten before and survived. On this After a story on the sightings Some students, Mr Church occasion witnesses say a timber appeared in the Northern Advo- included, then played pranks on rattler bit the 44-year-old on the cate on May 19 several more other residents, including going thigh during a Sunday service at reports of recent UFO sightings around the corridors with pil- Panther State Forest. from the region had come in, lowcases over their heads. while others had contacted the Ralph Hood, a religion profes- group to report historical sight- The situation had calmed sor at the University of Tennessee ings in Northland. down since staff arranged a at Chattanooga, said his friend blessing by a chaplain and a Wolford would want people to NZ Skeptics spokeswoman kaumatua on May 10. Good to remember him as “a Christian Vicki Hyde said there were a see our universities are bastions of rationality.

page 11 sleep paralysis Things that visit by night

Annette Taylor has personal experience of a phenomenon that lies behind many tales of ghosts, de- monic possession, and alien abduction.

WAS asleep. Marley, our cat, to say hello, but very much in No better image conveys the I was faster asleep by my side. a dream. My dad used to drop terror this phenomenon can bring by at night after he died, too. than The Nightmare, by Henry Suddenly I was awake, at We had good chats, but those Fuseli. the sound of another cat’s tread were definitely dreams. I never in the room. Then something thought for a moment he was a The victim lies helpless on jumped up and landed on the spirit hanging about. the darkened bed, and gleefully bed, and padded right up to me, perched on her is the terrifying wanting under the covers. This was different. At the incubus, peering straight out of time, I was certain there was a the picture. I’ll have you too, it I lay absolutely, perfectly still. cat in the room, on my bed, and seems to gloat. In fact, I couldn’t move. The cat moved to the end of the bed and settled down. The minutes ticked by, and I worried about an all-out cat fight flaring up. I wondered, for a second, if this could be Willow come a-visiting. The thing was, we’d buried her in the garden not two weeks before (I’m not going to reference Monty Python here), and I was fairly certain it wasn’t poor old Willow, even while half asleep. Then I came fully awake, groped in the dark for the cat I was convinced was lying there and found only Marley, snoring The Nightmare, by Henry Fuseli (1781). her head off.

It seemed so real, right down The work, painted in 1781, is to the whiff of a slightly damp I couldn’t move a muscle. In ret- rospect, I’m deeply disappointed said to have influenced writers moggy and the pressure of her such as Mary Shelley and Edgar landing on the bed. A tad con- the cat wasn’t unspeakably evil, with glowing coal eyes, yellow Allan Poe and it is still as full of fused, I fell asleep. The next menace today. morning it had all the weight of fangs and claws of death; that a dream. would have ticked every box Hypnopompic dreaming – or for being a classic case of sleep more properly Isolated Sleep I was missing my cat and pos- paralysis. Paralysis – occurs mainly upon sibly, in a sense, she did come number 104 – winter 2012 sleep paralysis awakening from sleep. It in- in the ‘metetherial’ dream-like and of itself. cludes a range of visual and world, which lies beyond every- auditory experiences: day existence. It’s a good word, Sleep Paralysis is reported even if these days most (rational) very frequently among peo- • a sense of evil in the room people consider such dreams to ple with sleep disorders, and otherwise occurs frequently • being paralysed or frozen be normal phenomena, rather than . in 6 percent of the population; • shortness of breath or pres- and occasionally in 60 percent. sure, as if something or someone I mentioned my dream to a When it occurs repeatedly it is is sitting on you friend, who made the comment categorised as Recurrent Sleep it would be nice to think that the Paralysis. But I’m not going to • being touched visitor really was my cat Willow. be putting out a saucer of milk I had all but the first, and the But no. To allow that comforting any time soon. thought traction ushers in a flood additional olfactory bonus of the Annette Taylor is a former editor of smell of damp moggy. of which I really the NZ Skeptic. have no time for. It was a genu- Most people report the experi- inely interesting occurrence, in forum ence as being intensely frighten- ing and while mine wasn't scary, No missing content it was definitely disturbing. Sleep paralysis, also known as night terrors, has been im- ENEE Maunder (Forum, NZ through the medium of syn- plicated in a lot of things of RSkeptic 103) laments that I dromes, lead to establishing the interest to skeptics, such as alien failed to supply a detailed list cause of a disease or disability. abductions. Carl Sagan, in The of references in my article on The keynote is predictability and Demon-Haunted World, says it ACC and sexual abuse claims certainty. is telling that alien abductions (NZ Skeptic 102). In my copy, No-one has yet been able occur mainly on falling asleep I saw the Health Practitioners to formulate a “sexual abuse or when waking up. “Abduction Competency Assurance Act syndrome” because any effects therapists are puzzled when their 2003, the Shorter Oxford Eng- which may occur are idiosyn- patients describe crying out in lish Dictionary, ACC legislation, cratic and unpredictable. terror while their spouses sleep public utterances by the NZ leadenly beside them. But isn’t Association of Counsellors and These matters lie at the heart this typical of dreams, our shouts similar organisations, ACC Press of the ACC Sensitive Claim for help unheard?” he writes. Releases, ACC’s Best Practice process. Evidence of cause Guidelines, the pseudo-research and effect is imperative. In the Before we had visits from fly- by Massey University (paid for absence of evidence external ing saucers, these vivid dreams by ACC) and the Crimes Act. to complainant allegations, the were linked with the super- attribution of psychological con- natural – witchcraft, demons, She mocks my comments ditions to sexual abuse is unsci- ghosties and things that go bump about syndromes. My article entific, unethical, and downright in the night. defined a syndrome as“a group of symptoms or pathology which dangerous. But ACC and its The term hypnopompic comes consistently occur together, counsellors make that attribution from 19th century psychic re- especially with an (originally) thousands of times each year. searcher and poet Frederic My- unknown cause.” A syndrome Ms Maunder seems to think ers. He was a founding member permits cause to be determined I suggested a “mental injury” of the Society for Psychical from symptoms or effects. It should be a “syndrome” in order Research in 1883 and influenced would be fair to say (for exam- to be real. No I didn’t. The Carl Jung, among others. He ple) that medical practitioners “narrow definition of mental in- believed apparitions were not might expect to find maybe four, jury” used belongs to s.27 of the hallucinations, but really existed six or a dozen symptoms that, AC Act and is entirely subjective

page 13 forum

- “a clinically significant behav- out which statutes these are.” intake of sodium is round about ioural, cognitive, or psychologi- Concealing a crime is itself a 2000 mg; a slice of commercially cal dysfunction” can mean pretty crime. �����ACC’s Guidelines for baked bread contains somewhat much anything. Therapists Working with Adult more than 62 mg sodium. Survivors of Sexual Abuse 2001 In terms of the ACC legisla- states: “The therapist is asked Alan Hart tion, cover for “mental injury to bear witness to a crime…….” Siouxsie Wiles replies: caused by certain criminal of- In my opinion, witnesses to such fences” requires credible, test- crimes have an obligation to Apologies, the reference able evidence of several aspects, report them. to 62 mg of sodium per but ACC and its counsellors fail phenylbutyrate tablet was to meet that criterion. The Crimes Act 1961: Part 10: completely meaningless without Crimes against rights of proper- The three main aspects are : referring to how many tablets are ty: s.228(b) makes it an offence prescribed. While it is difficult 1. Evidence that the alleged to dishonestly use a document for to see what Burzynski actually Schedule 3 criminal sexual pecuniary gain. In the absence prescribes in terms of sodium offence actually did occur; of credible evidence of criminal phenylbutyrate, the doses he sexual offences and/or proof that describes for the antineoplastins 2. Evidence that a s.27 “mental claimed mental injuries were (which remember are metabolites injury” actually exists; and caused by such offences, it is of sodium phenylbutyrate) vary 3. Evidence that the alleged dishonest to submit documenta- hugely from less than 100 mg offence caused the mental in- tion for monetary compensation per kg body weight per day up jury – and that the injury was or other valuable considerations. to 25 g per kg body weight per not due to some other trauma ACC abets this deceit and is day (1.usa.gov/MRBEn7) and he in the claimant’s life. therefore also culpable. has stated on many occasions The obvious starting point that high doses are needed to be Ms Maunder sees anomalies effective. around my comments about for these claims is clear evidence “proper evidence”. Pretty that the claimant did experience To put that in perspective, if simple, really. Every such a criminal sexual offence. The we took a person weighing 70 claim is an allegation of a serious almost foolproof way to do that is kg, the 100 mg dose would be crime. Unless ACC has credible by a conviction or an admission about half the recommended evidence of the three aspects of guilt. But in the ACC system, daily sodium intake, while the 25 noted above, it has no business the alleged offender does not g dose could be as much as 100 approving cover for claims. even have to be identified or times the recommended daily advised of the allegations, and intake. As these doses will be on Ms Maunder suggests my if he has been, he cannot defend top of what people are getting in comments are “obviously himself. Shades of The Trial by their diet, it is hard to see how absurd” unless I show that only Franz Kafka ? patients aren’t being put at risk ACC-registered counsellors Gordon Waugh (abridged) of the side effects of sodium can refer “patients” for claims. toxicity. It is common knowledge that counselling is an unregulated Sodium toxicity? activity. Anyone can do it. A Morality or instinct? person wanting to be registered Siouxsie Wiles in her article on the ACC gravy train as a in the latest NZ Skeptic (103) Mark Ottley (“Scientifically counsellor must jump through the claims that ingestion of 62 mg determined morality”, NZ hoops set up by the Counselling of sodium carries a “considerable Skeptic 103) makes a lot of fuss Costs Regulations. risk of side effects including about something which is no more than the development of Finally, she says “Mr Waugh lethargy, weakness, irritability, seizures, coma and even death.” I instinct. Societies evolve in the refers twice to laws that are being same way as individuals and broken, but never actually sets doubt it. The recommended daily number 104 – winter 2012 forum any behaviour which assists although we have not given up empirical convergence over the prosperity of the society or killing approved enemies. past decade, suggesting a six its survival will be selected factor model of personality and by evolution and eventually There are degrees of adherence morality. Six factors, not more incorporated in the genes of the to officially or legally encouraged and not less. The utility of a individuals. This is called an morality and Mark Ottley has scientific model includes clarity instinct. Birds have an instinct to surveyed some of those that of concept, parsimony, consil- build nests. All organisms have are promoted. Without some ience, predictive accuracy and an instinct to reproduce. diversity, no society would be so on, and this model appears able to make the changes that to possess such qualities given Morality is what people are going to be needed for future my reading and clinical practice do. All societies attempt to survival. to date. discourage behaviour that harms the society and encourage Vincent Gray The second point is that we behaviour that benefits it. Over Wellington have advanced to a point where time, all societies develop a basic Mark Ottley replies: evidence-based morality is feasi- approved morality which may be ble not just in theory, but in prac- enforced by laws, education, or Thank you to Dr Gray for tak- tice. Cultural practices either religion, and over the course of ing the time to provide feedback. enhance or detract from human time some of it will be instinctive. I am especially grateful that he wellbeing. These variables of Some will require education largely interpreted my article as I cultural practice and wellbeing or training. It is not surprising intended it to be interpreted. are increasingly well understood, that all successful societies Dr Gray outlines a descrip- measurable and controllable. have similar instincts of basic tive evolutionary account of Positive implementation requires morality. morality popularised since at effective dissemination, hence further fuss over the descrip- A tendency to cooperate, least the 1970s. Ideally aspects could be clarified further by tive and prescriptive symbolism obedience to the laws, nurturing I.T.E.A.C.H. in my article. of children, concern for human recent research and important life and for the family, have ultimate/proximate distinctions. Dr Gray is absolutely correct evolved in all successful As one example, human ‘genetic that we must retain some diver- societies. selfishness’ typically develops sity to make moral progress, into a stronger basic instinct and I highlighted the importance A constant problem is for altruism than for selfishness of “evolutionary processes of genetic variability, where some – given that the ‘self’ is always cultural variation, selection and individuals are less reliable. a dead end but kin are not (Ken- retention” in my article. What Another is the clash with rick, Griskevicius, Neuberg, & we have in the way of evidence- other instincts. The most basic Schaller 2010). However, to based morality is a beginning instinct of all is selfishness. describe such considerations in not an end. However, it is an Without it none of us would be detail was not my main objec- important beginning to acknowl- here at all. So all societies have tive. edge and advocate for in a world to try and control it, or devise Instead, my article “makes a where most advocate non-evi- safe procedures to permit its lot of fuss” (definitely!) about dence-based moral models (often indulgence. two main points, both of which from a superstitious and religious I regard as relatively novel and point of view), or deny the pos- There is also the instinct to sibility altogether (often from a kill others, animals or humans. important and thus worth sharing with fellow skeptics. The first philosophical or scientism point Without it we could never have of view). fed ourselves or fend off enemies. is that research from a range of So we promote ‘sports’ which fields (biological, psycholexical, safely indulge the killer instinct. cross-cultural, psychiatric and so on) has resulted in an unsought

page 15 alt med Could coconut oil be an option for treating Alzheimer’s?

Siouxsie Wiles

A new alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s doing the rounds seems to be based on a misunderstanding of the underlying science.

carbohydrates. The liver con- for fuel, which can lead to coma verts the fats into ketones which and death. can be used in place of glucose. Where it gets interesting is that So what about ketones and a particular high-fat diet is being Alzheimer’s? Well it turns out used to successfully treat another that there are a number of studies brain disease – epilepsy. The ke- looking at raising ketone levels togenic diet is a strictly control- in people with mild to moder- led, high-fat, adequate protein, ate late onset Alzheimer’s. And low-carbohydrate diet, which it looks like they are doing it has been shown in numerous without the strict ketogenic diet. peer-reviewed scientific studies In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre to be effective for controlling 1 seizures in the group of children trial , subjects were given a daily HE title of this piece is that don’t respond to medical drink of a ketogenic compound a question posed by the T treatment (so-called drug resist- called AC-1202 on top of their ‘health correspondent’* in one of ant epilepsy). Unfortunately normal diets (and prescribed our local rags. It was inspired by studies have shown that it is less Alzheimer’s medication), and a video doing the rounds on the effective in adults. assessed for changes in cognitive internet of an American doctor performance. who is using coconut oil to treat So the ketogenic diet is more her husband’s Alzheimer’s. The than just supplementing the diet But there was also a little doctor’s name is Mary Newport with coconut oil. And it isn’t twist to this story. One of the and she also has a book out: without side effects either, which major risk factors for late onset Alzheimer’s Disease: What If can include weight loss, kidney Alzheimer’s is possession of one There Was a Cure? The Story of stones, and constipation. While or more copies of the epsilon 4 Ketones. these are not insurmountable, variant of the apolipoprotein E the diet can be fatal for people gene (APOE4). The more copies So what are ketones and could with genetic disorders of fat of APOE4 you have, the higher coconut oil be the new wonder metabolism. People like these your risk of developing the dis- cure for Alzheimer’s? Normally will not be able to use the fats ease. So did AC-1202 improve carbohydrates in the diet are con- provided in the diet and if insuf- cognitive performance? Yes, but verted into glucose which is then ficient protein and carbohydrate only for people who didn’t carry used by the body as fuel. How- are given, they will start breaking any copies of APOE4. What this ever, when facing starvation, the down their own protein stores means is that your genes affect body can burn fats in place of whether or not you respond to

*A vitamin and supplement peddler so I am always a little sceptical of his claims! number 104 – winter 2012 alt med ketones. Interestingly, about type and stock up on coconut find it’s a little more complicated 10 percent of subjects got a lit- oil, let’s return to Mary Newport than that! tle better without any treatment and her husband for a moment. 1. Henderson ST, Poirier J (2011). 2 too. Mary blogs about their life with BMC Medical Genetics. 12:137. . Alzheimer’s, and despite being 2. coconutketones.blogspot. So what is AC-1202? It is on coconut oil since 2008, all co.nz NeoBee 895®, a common food is not rosy. So if you started Siouxsie Wiles is a microbiologist ingredient made using glycerin this article thinking that adding and bioluminescence enthusiast from vegetable oil and fatty acids a little coconut oil to your diet who heads the Bioluminescent from, you guessed it… coconut Superbugs Group at the University would be the answer, I’m sorry of Auckland. oil! Although palm kernel oil is to disappoint you. As Ben Gol- also often used. But before you dacre would say, I think you’ll race off to check your APOE4- teething beads Amber teething beads revisited

Darcy Cowan takes another look at a subject that just won’t go away.

HE page views for my am- As to the second, three words group for clinical studies. There- Tber teething necklace post for you: Anecdote, and Confir- fore by definition the placebo (printed in NZ Skeptic 100) are mation Bias. I know enough to response was what happened about to pass the 20,000 mark. realise that I am not immune to when people weren’t treated. It Interest in the article has just kept the wiles of confirmation bias, was the catch-all for everything increasing over the last year or which would make any personal that could affect the outcome that so, as opposed to the majority of trial I made just another anecdote wasn’t due to the treatment itself: my posts which slip into internet – something I don’t accept from poor method design, confirma- obscurity within days. In antici- others, so what would make my tion bias, reporting bias, observer pation of the occasion I thought own experience any more valid? effect on the patients, regression I’d cover some of the comments I realise that for most people to the mean, natural history of the that this post has gathered over this sort of reasoning is at best disease, etc, etc. the last few months. foreign and at worst incompre- hensible. The general thinking More recently there has been Many of the comments are appears to be: “If I try something some work to see if there is a along the lines of “It worked for and it seems to work, then it real change due to people think- me”, and “Try it yourself”. works – QED”. ing they are getting an active treatment, the so-called ‘placebo To the first, a bunch of indi- No. response/effect’. Results have viduals making claims of ef- been mixed. It is true that people ficacy without adequate control Related to this point are ap- will report less pain and their for bias, natural history and peals to the placebo effect, the brains will show less activation various other contingencies is idea being that simply trying in pain-related areas. But people not a compelling argument to something helps, somehow. This are susceptible to what they are me. Plenty of others swear by may be true. But the placebo told. If you tell people a cheap practices based on personal effect seems now to be the ‘go- wine is expensive they will en- experience that have no hope of to’ explanation for all things joy it more. Is there a placebo working; why should this one get unexplained. It started off be- wine effect? Possibly, but the more credibility? ing understood as simply the wine didn’t change and neither improvement seen in the control

page 17 teething beads did any underlying physiology register of such devices). Not to breach section 42DL(1)(g) in relation to placebo medical only that but there were suppliers of the Act, which prohibits the treatments. (www.allaboutamber.com.au) ad- publication of advertisements mitting that they couldn’t claim for therapeutic goods that are not In fact recent studies of asthma therapeutic benefits because included in the Register.“ showed that while people report- they were not on the register. The website involved changed ed feeling better while taking a This company still promotes the placebo, their ability to perform their wording to get around the therapeutic benefits of Hazel- regulations. Spot the differ- on objective measures remained wood Jewellery, however: the same, while those on active ence: medications improved. If you Hazelwood products are believed OLD: “natural pain relief pro- feel better while still having a to help to create an alkaline envi- vided by Amber works by placing life-threatening condition are ronment in your body, which may the necklace on your body, this you better? I don’t think so. help, precent[sic] and appease allows your skin to warm the many of the symptoms caused amber beads, releasing healing So in appealing to the placebo by being to acidic. Hazelwood, oils which are then absorbed into effect you have to concede that: being an alkaline wood, has the the blood stream.“ natural property of absorbing and 1. the amber beads don’t have neutralizing the body’s acidity NEW: “Amber is believed to any active ingredient, and through contact with the skin. By soothe naturally, when Amber is doing so, the necklaces can also worn next to the skin it is warm 2. don’t make any difference help with digestion, constipation, and it is reputed to release natural to the underlying condition. eczema, migraines, acid reflux, oils that can care for the skin.” heart burn, nausea, arthritis, skin ie, they do nothing. problems, etc. If you suffer from What a difference a few words make. Now notice in my original one of these issues, it is highly piece this is not what I said. I probable that you are suffering At the time the comment was from an acidity imbalance, and merely pointed out there is no made alleging the necklaces hazelwood may be able to help good reason to think they are you alleviate these symptoms in were on the register, I suspected doing anything, not that they a natural way. Most people who that intended therapeutic benefits definitely aren’t – a subtle dis- suffer from an unbalanced pH are would be enough to fulfil the tinction I admit. unbalanced towards the acidic. therapeutic benefits category. This condition forces the body In essence the argument is: “If to borrow minerals—including This is supported both in the you think it works then it does”. calcium, sodium, potassium and declaration of the supplier above I would counter by asking why magnesium—from vital organs and from the wording from the not use something that we know and bones to buffer (neutralize) complaint; just prior to the ex- works, and then you can capital- the acid and safely remove it cerpt above it states: ise on both effects: you will think from the body. “Therapeutic goods are defined it works and it will actually work Hmm, perhaps another post is in the Act to include goods that too. Double goodness. in order. And a complaint. are represented in any way to One poster asserted that amber be for therapeutic use. Thera- A complaint was made against necklaces were registered with peutic use is defined to include one supplier for making claims use in or in connection with the Therapeutic Goods Adminis- for the product and this was up- influencing, inhibiting, or modi- tration in Australia as a Medical held by the Therapeutic Products fying a physiological process in Device, so this must mean they Advertising Complaints Resolu- persons. have therapeutic properties. tion Panel, in part because the In representing the advertised This one was my favourite as necklaces are not on the regis- products to have an “active it was almost laughably easy to ter. ingredient”, to release “healing dismantle. After only a few min- oils which are then absorbed “The Panel noted, without mak- into the blood stream”, and to utes I found it was completely ing any formal finding, that the relieve teething in infants, the untrue (the TGA has an on-line advertisement appeared likely number 104 – winter 2012 teething beads

advertisement clearly constituted of this theoretical research pro- plausibility for what they are an advertisement for therapeutic gramme). marketed for. goods.” [Emphasis added] All three of these items would Darcy Cowan lives in Hamilton, Lets say though that the prod- need to be looked at in order to where he works at an environmen- uct had been registered with the tal chemical testing laboratory and state that amber beads have good writes the Scepticon blog. TGA or will sometime in the near future. I would note that unless the administration was in Want to develop your psychic possession of studies that are not powers? published elsewhere there is no way they could be sure that an Tawa College Community Education has just the course for you... actual benefit is occurring. And that brings us right back where we are now. As an extra note on the activi- ties of the Australian government on this topic I found it amusing to see that the Australian Com- petition and Consumer Com- Submitted by Hugh Young mission issued a safety warning about Amber teething beads at from the vaults the end of September last year. Police check pyramid link to gunman I say amusing because, while it’s not impossible, I do find it Sandra Roberts unlikely that one branch of the government is condoning their POLICE are checking for According to prophets, pyra- use while another warns against any link between gunman Brian mids have almost miraculous them. Luckily this is not actually Schlaepfer’s “slightly eccentric” healing properties. They claim the case. behaviour of meditating in a pyr- pyramids reduce the crime rate amid and his role in the Paerata and improve the health of com- Finally, I am not intending to massacre. munities in which they are built, address every conceivable objec- and offer hope to people who tion to my arguments, merely a Detective Inspector Kalvin seek their strength. McMinn told Sunday News po- survey of what has been proffered lice were aware of Schlaepfer’s So what went wrong with the so far. I am not really convinced pyramid meditation and would pyramid used by Schlaepfer? by anything I have yet seen but include details in a report to the Maybe it was built incorrectly I remain open to changing my coroner. and so Schlaepfer received no mind so long as the evidence is positive vibes, theorises New of good quality. It doesn’t have ... Regardless of how Paerata Zealand metaphysician Ray- to be much: a good start would be gunman Brian Schlaepfer used mond Bain who flew to London the power of his pyramid at the something that suggests succinic this week for a month-long con- bottom of his garden in Ostrich acid has the analgesic properties ference to study ways to improve Farm Rd, the end result has the world. attributed to it. Then we could been nothing short of destruc- address whether succinic acid is tive: seven people dead, a family He says people don’t under- released from the beads at ambi- in tatters and a community in stand the power of the pyramids ent/skin temperature. Finally we shock. and that it can be like putting would need to tackle whether people in front of a high-powered And the mystery of what turned the succinic acid is absorbed motor car... the simple-living 64-year-old into topically in any significant dose a killer is as great as the secrets – From the Sunday News, (decent dose-response curves entombed in the pyramids of reprinted in NZ Skeptic 24, June could be obtained at stage one ancient Egypt. 1992.

page 19 If undelivered, return to: New Zealand NZ Skeptics Permit No. 3357 Permit P.O. Box 30501 Lower Hutt 5040

2012 Skeptics Conference – Not long to go now!

Friday 31 August - Sunday 2 September Otago University, Dunedin

Once again the NZ Skeptics are holding their annual conference.

Book your travel now for the most interesting and entertaining conference all year.

See www.skeptics.org.nz for further details, and registration form.

NZ Skeptics (Inc.) Chair-entity: Gold (Christchurch), [email protected] Secretary: Jim Cheetham (Christchurch), [email protected] Treasurer: Michelle Coffey (Wellington), [email protected] Committee: Claire le Couteur (Christchurch) Michael Edmonds (Christchurch) Robert Woolf (Auckland) Danna Challies (Palmerston North) David Riddell (Hamilton) Alastair Brickell (Coromandel) Keith Garratt (Rotorua) Nathan Grange (Auckland) Barry Lennox (Rangiora) Craig Shearer (Auckland)

Media Contact: Vicki Hyde, [email protected] NZ Skeptic Editor: David Riddell, [email protected] Video Librarian: Alastair Brickell www.skeptics.org.nz/SK:MEMBERSVIDEO