“What we won't do is pretend that the work of lunatic charlatans is the equivalent of true scientific discourse” The Skeptic -Wikipedia's co-founder Jimmy Wales commenting about alternative medicine, March 23, 2014. Encyclopedia Examples of Wikipedia's Assaults and Bias Against Alternative Medicine The following are examples taken from Wikipedia opinion blog] Gorski said that its findings highlight the entries for various Complementary and Alternative conclusion that acupuncture is "a theatrical placebo Medicine that exemplify gross bias and prejudice by whose real history has been reckoned beyond Skeptic editors who monitor and control these pages. recognition." [Note: Acupuncture is increasingly being taught in conventional American medical schools] Alternative Medicine "describes any practice that aims to achieve the healing effects of medicine, but which Image: Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy lacks biological plausibility and is untested, untested or Wales (right) with celebrity Skeptic proven ineffective.... Frequently used derogatory terms and father of the New Atheism for the alternative are new-age or pseudo, with little movement Richard Dawkins distinction from quackery." [Note: 98 of the 198 citations Naturopathy "is a form of recorded in the Wikipedia entry are from Skeptic alternative medicine that employs an publications and blog sites; 126 of the 140 US medical array of pseudoscientific practices schools require alternative medicine courses] branded as "natural", "non-invasive", Complementary Medicine or Integrative Medicine "is or promoting "self-healing"... when alternative medicine is used together with naturopaths have repeatedly been denounced as and functional medical treatment, in a belief that it improves accused of being charlatans and practicing quackery." the effect of treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine. "There is no scientific Chiropractic "is a pseudoscientific complementary and evidence for traditional Chinese concepts such as qi, alternative medicine (CAM) that is concerned with the meridians, and acupuncture points...The concept of vital diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the energy is pseudoscience." musculoskeletal system, especially the spine... There is Ayurvedic Medicine. "There is no good evidence that no conclusive evidence that chiropractic is effective for indicates Ayurveda is effective for treating any disease, the treatment of any medical condition." and it is pseudoscientific." Homeopathy "is a pseudoscientific system of alternative Herbal Medicine "describes medicine.... The lack of convincing scientific evidence alternative and pseudoscientific supporting its efficacy and its use of preparations without practices of using unrefined plant or active ingredients have led to characterizations as animal extracts as unproven pseudoscience and quackery." medicines or health-promoting agents." Acupuncture "is a pseudoscience because the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientific Image: Stephen Barrett, life-long Skeptic, founder of the knowledge, and it has been characterized as quackery... opinion website Quackwatch, the most cited reference for Writing in Science-Based Medicine, [a popular Skeptic Wikipedia attacks against health & alternative medicine. Energy Medicine "is a branch of alternative medicine What Wikipedia Skeptics Have to Say based on a pseudo-scientific belief that healers can channel healing energy into a patient and effect positive From a Skeptic's Wikipedia Policy Page. "This results... There is no reliable scientific evidence that unapologetic endorsement of the NPOV [Neutral Point of bioresonance is an accurate indicator of medical View] policy on pseudoscience and the policy on fringe conditions or disease or an effective treatment for any science is the clearest indication yet that Wikipedia's condition." robust response to cranks, quacks and charlatans is solidly in line with Wikipedia's foundational goals." Image: Dr. David Gorski, radical Skeptic on the anti-alternative Image: James Randi disciple medicine Science Based Medicine Susan Gerbic, founder of blog often cited on Wikipedia Guerilla Skepticism on Wikipedia Craniosacral Therapy (CST) "is Guerrilla Skepticism on a form of bodywork or alternative Wikipedia "is a serious therapy that uses gentle touch to organization of so-called palpate the synarthrodial joints of "skeptics" to influence and the cranium... CST is a manipulate Wikipedia pseudoscience, and its practice articles in a systematic way... has been characterized as quackery." is part of an international network of materialistic Therapeutic Touch, "is a pseudoscientific energy fanatics who - after their own understanding - try to edit therapy... There is no good medical evidence or the and re-write articles in Wikipedia to ensure that effectiveness of therapeutic touch." [Note: Therapeutic Wikipedia is reflecting their personal world-view and Touch is taught in over 100 colleges, universities and ideology... She [Susan Gerbic] relates that the project's medical schools and over 80 hospitals] goal is to improve the Wikipedia pages for all skeptical spokespeople" Wikipedia Page for Dr. Deepak Chopra. "Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has said that Image: David Gorski and Chopra uses "quantum jargon as plausible-sounding James Randi hocus pocus"... He is placed by David Gorski among the Susan Gerbic reply to "quacks", "cranks" and "purveyors of woo", and Jimmy Wales. “Jimmy described as "arrogantly obstinate". [Note: Dr. Chopra is you have already done a world renowned pioneer in integrative medicine, more than anyone could former chief of staff at New England Memorial Hospital possibly dream that can and currently a thet University of California San Diego] be done.... Thank you. Allowing us editors to ‘do our Wikipedia Page for Dr. Mark Hyman. "Hyman is a job’... I can’t imagine what else you can do, my brain is proponent of functional medicine, a controversial form of teeny tiny compared to your mighty brain, if you come alternative medicine that lacks evidence for its use" up with something please oh please let us in on it, we Wikipedia describes Functional want to help.” Medicine "as pseudoscience, From Skeptic blog Skeptoid. ".... the rules of quackery." [Note: Dr. Hyman evidence on Wikipedia are pro-skeptic and pro-science. was the former chief editor of If you are pushing an idea that science rejects, Wikipedia the journal Alternative will reject it too... Paranormalists and pseudoscientists Therapies in Health and take note: skeptics are not bullying you off Wikipedia. Medicine and a medical adviser We are only enforcing the rules of evidence as clearly to Bill and Hillary Clinton] stated on the service. If you cannot provide adequate Image: Celebrity Skeptic evidence for your ideas, they will not be accepted. So spokesperson James Randi, the says Jimmy Wales, so say we all.” inspiration behind Guerilla Please Visit PRN's Wikipedia Watch for dozens of Skepticism on Wikipedia investigative reports on Wikipedia's untrustworthiness about Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Skeptical About Skeptics .